[First trends of change in mortality by suicide in Nord-Pas-de-Calais since VigilanS]

In terms of suicide prevention, population-based prevention devices often struggle to demonstrate an effect in terms of reducing suicidal acts of suicide, often focusing on the evolution of the number of suicide attempts, on time too short to statistically interpret changes in mortality. The consolidated figures for mortality in France are provided by the CepiDC with a delay of approximately three years. We therefore had to try to work with an approximation of the phenomenon, and we tested the proxy value of the enumeration of corpses, body examinations and medico-legal autopsies for suicide by the forensic doctors of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region in France. In parallel, we conducted a comprehensive mortality study for 2016 in the VigilanS cohort.

By measuring the evolution of the number of body lifts for suicide by the Department of Forensic Medicine of the region, for the 3 years before VigilanS (2012-2014) compared to the 3 years since VigilanS (2015-2017). The deaths of patients of the VigilanS cohort were identified by calling the city halls of birth and domicile of all patients integrating the device in 2016. The cause of death was then characterized by contact of the attending physician.

We observe an average decrease in suicide mortality of 9.9% (-12% for men, +0.3% for women). The exhaustive analysis of suicide mortality in the VigilanS cohort in 2016 found 19 deaths, of which 14 by suicide, or 0.4% of patients. This observed mortality rate in the VigilanS cohort in 2016 is significantly below the expected threshold in the literature (1 to 2% in the year following TS).

It seems possible to reach the 2020 target for a 10% decrease in suicidal behavior in industrialized countries by 2020. The VigilanS device could therefore be protective in terms of suicide mortality.