Depression und Suizidalität

Even if the freedom to suicide is part of our human existence,
about 90% of all suicides occur in the context of psychiatric
disorders and thus in states of limited power of judgment.
Depressive disorders represent the most frequent cause for
suicides. Thus, optimization of medical care for depressive
patients is one of the most promising strategies to prevent
suicides. In the context of the `Nuremberg Alliance Against
Depression' it came to an obvious reduction of suicidal acts
compared to a baseline year and compared to the control region of
Wurzburg. The reduction could be reached by a cooperation with GPs,
multipliers such as teachers, priests, geriatric caregivers and the
media, through intensive public relations work and through support
of self help activities. This approach is carried forward within
the Germany-wide `Alliance Against Depression' and within the
`European Alliance Against Depression' ( EAAD) which is funded by
the European Commission. In the last part of the article the
suicide- preventive, but also the possible suicide-inducing effect
of antidepressants is discussed.