Spotlight on suicide prevention
Every day, about four people in Sweden choose to die by their own hand, as a result of hopelessness and despair. Many more make attempts to commit suicide, but their lives are saved. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet are investigating why suicide rates are not declining, and what can be done both to lower the risk of suicide and prevent people from taking the last irreversible step.
Hold on and hold out – save more people from suicide
Approximately 1,500 Swedes commit suicide each year. Although major efforts are being made to save more of those who see death as the only way out, much remains to be done.
"The most important thing is to have the courage to deal with the issue”
"I felt like I was the big idiot”
“I lied to everyone about how dad died”
Increased suicide risk among unaccompanied refugee minors
In a report, researchers at KI have concluded that the risk of suicide among unaccompanied refugee minors and young adults in 2017 was nine times higher than the equivalent figure for the same age group in the Swedish population.
Photo: Martin StenmarkPsychiatrist Cristian Rück: "A zero vision for suicide is not possible"
Thanks to the research conducted by Christian Rück and others there is currently research on all compulsive related disorders. He is now venturing into a perhaps even more difficult and important task: Suicide prevention.
Photo: Martin StenmarkNew thesis calls compulsory care into question
How do carers reason when deciding to treat patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) under compulsory care? Is compulsory care ethically defensible? A new thesis by psychiatrist Antoinette Lundahl tries to answer these questions and concludes that there is much to indicate that compulsory care does not help patients with BPD and can even increase the risk of suicide.
Photo: Johannes FrandsenSimple measures can prevent suicide in rail transport
Every year, 135 people die by suicide in Sweden’s transport system, with about 85 of these occurring in rail transport. Johan Fredin Knutzén investigates intelligent measures that can save lives.
Photo: Ulf SirbornThe US is bucking the trend for suicide
Bo Runeson is a clinical psychiatrist and professor of psychiatry at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience at Karolinska Institutet. He has conducted an overview of suicide from a global perspective between the years 2000 and 2016.
Photo: Getty ImagesScreening score at emergency psychiatric clinic is linked to death by suicide
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have completed a large study evaluating a screening instrument for assessing the risk of suicide in connection with a visit to an emergency psychiatric clinic. The researchers found a link between screening score and suicide risk a short time after the emergency visit.
News on suicide prevention research
Other organisations
Photo: Public Domain CC0Mind suicide hotline
If you think about taking your own life or if you have a family member or a friend who talks about it – Mind suicide hotline is for you. The hotline can be reached in Sweden by phone, chat or email.
Photo: FolkhälsomyndighetenThe Public Health Agency
Find information and statistics about suicide and suicide prevention in Sweden. The Swedish Public Health Agency is responsible for monitoring, developing and disseminating knowledge to prevent suicide.