ArticleBMC public health2024
Challenges in the evaluation of suicide prevention measures and quality of suicide data in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland: findings from qualitative expert interviews.
Article in BMC public health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Economic evaluations of preventive interventions for self-harm and suicide: a systematic review.Psychological medicine · 2026Pooled it
- Suicide attempt risk factors in individuals with psychiatric disorders and multi-affected families: a network analysis.Npj mental health research · 2026Article
- Global burden, risk factors and projections of self-harm mortality in adults aged 65+ years: A 60-year trend analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.General psychiatry · 2026Article
- Spatiotemporal clustering and epidemiological characterization of suicides in Ecuador, 2015-2023.PLOS global public health · 2026Article
- The Sociology of Suicide After COVID-19: Assessment of the Spanish Case.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Study protocol of a hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation multisite trial: Dialectical behavior therapy skills group for Veterans at high-risk for suicide attempt.Contemporary clinical trials · 2025Article
- Promoting the Sustainability of Suicide Prevention Projects in Switzerland.Public health reviews · 2025Article
- Re-evaluating National Suicide Prevention Month: Strategic Timing and Enhanced Impact.Critical public health · 2025Article
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2 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSuicide prevention requires diverse, integrated, and evidence-based measures. Comprehensive evaluation of interventions and reliable suicide data are crucial for guiding policy-making and advancing suicide prevention efforts. This study aimed to analyze current issues and gaps in the evaluation of suicide prevention measures and the quality of suicide data in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland to derive specific recommendations for improvement.
methodsOnline, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 36 experts in suicide prevention from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, covering insights from policy, science, and practice. The interviews took place between September 2022 and February 2023, were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using the Framework method.
resultsWhile solid evidence supports the effectiveness of some suicide prevention interventions, experts indicated that the evaluation of many other measures is weak. Conducting effectiveness studies in suicide prevention presents a range of methodological and practical challenges, including recruitment difficulties, choosing adequate outcome criteria, ethical considerations, and trade-offs in allocating resources to evaluation efforts. Many interviewees rated the quality of national suicide statistics in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland as comparatively high. However, they noted limitations in the scope, timeliness, and reliability of these data, prompting some regions to implement their own suicide monitoring systems. None of the three countries has national routine data on suicide attempts.
conclusionWhile some challenges in evaluating suicide prevention measures are inevitable, others can potentially be mitigated. Evaluations could be enhanced by combining traditional and innovative research designs, including intermediate outcomes and factors concerning the implementation process, and employing participatory and transdisciplinary research to engage different stakeholders. Reliable suicide data are essential for identifying trends, supporting research, and designing targeted prevention measures. To improve the quality of suicide data, a standardized monitoring approach, including uniform definitions, trained professionals, and cross-sector agreement on leadership and financing, should be pursued. This study provides actionable recommendations and highlights existing good practice approaches, thereby supporting decision-makers and providing guidance for advancing suicide prevention on a broader scale.
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