These studies were carried out by the RIVM (National Institute of Public Health and the Environment) and the Trimbos Institute.
The RIVM had been commissioned by GGZ Nederland, the national umbrella organisation for mental health care, to conduct a review of which measures the GGD regional health care services could take to prevent suicide. Trimbos conducted a study on behalf of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport on developing a regional approach to suicide prevention.
Both reports describe examples of successful projects, such as in The Hague, the West-Friesland region and the province of Friesland. Meaningful interventions by GGD organisations include identifying risk groups through health surveys, public information campaigns, training educators to identify mental health problems at an early stage, providing skills training for young people and providing support to vulnerable groups, such as the bereaved.
The emphasis in the proposed approach lies in building on the already successful activities and measures of GGD and GGZ organisations. Examples are prevention projects in schools or offering group therapy to the bereaved.
Annually over 450,000 people in the Netherlands contemplate suicide. Of these, nearly 100,000 make a suicide attempt; and almost 1,500 succeed in taking their own lives. Injury arising from unsuccessful suicide attempts lead to some 15,000 emergency room interventions, and 9,000 hospital admissions.
Contact: Marien Abspoel
