Suicide-Prevention and Suicide-Attempt-Prevention

DIGNITAS gives intensive consideration to the question of suicide- and suicide-attempt prevention. The fact that every year in Switzerland up to 66’650 suicide attempts fail – in the UK this number is up to 264’800 – demands that we deal with this issue. Many people injure themselves badly and suffer long-lasting physical and often also mental problems, with severe emotional and financial consequences for themselves, their next-of-kin and friends, and also for the public health system and the economy.

The suicide issue must be freed from the taboo surrounding it and discussed openly. In a similar way to the issue of abortion, an ideal solution will not be readily available. How- ever, it is our duty to search for the best answer to the problem. DIGNITAS always looks for opportunities to help people towards life instead of death.

Suicide attempt prevention in Switzerland:

In Switzerland – as in most countries – high-quality statistical data is available regarding the number of suicides. For various reasons, little has been known to date about the (far higher) number of suicide attempts. The "Groupe Romand Prévention Suicide", in cooperation with a number of emergency sites in the French-speaking part of the country, therefore set up a programme to monitor self-harm. The first insights of the programme were published in the "Swiss Medical Weekly" in February 2019.

Suicide attempt prevention in Asia:

In suicide (attempt) prevention, sometimes all it takes to save a life is a minute of your time. >> read more (Link)

An approach that combines research, knowledge sharing, and training for teachers, would help prevent suicide (attempts) among Hong Kong’s youth, amid academic and social pressure. By Paul Yip. >> read more (Link)

How to talk to and comfort suicide survivors, and better understand their anger and grief. By Anthea Rowan, in the “South China Morning Post” (Link)

Suicide- and Suicide Attempt Prevention in Greece: the NGO KLIMAKA runs a Suicide Prevention Centre in Athens, Greece www.klimaka.org and http://suicide-help.gr

"Suicide-Prevention must be complemented by Suicide-Attempt-Prevention"

Speech of Ludwig A. Minelli on this issue at the congress of the World Federation of Right-to-Die Societies in Zürich (PDF)

Suicide Prevention around the World:

UK: The Samaritans (Link)   Phone: 116 123

USA: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Link) Phone: 1-800 273 8255

Australia: Lifeline Crisis Support (Link) Phone: 13 11 14

Further suicide prevention hotlines/contacts around the world (Link)

Swiss Federal Statistical Office: Assisted Suicide and Suicide in Switzerland 1998 - 2009 (PDF-file, in German and French)

Comparative chart: Accompaniments by DIGNITAS and EXIT, suicide and suicide attempts in Switzerland (PDF-file)

The World Health Organization WHO on suicide prevention (Link)

The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) on suicide prevention (Link, in German and French)

Suicide and suicide prevention on Wikipedia (Link)

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