New hope against suicide: risk marker body trust discovered!

New hope against suicide: risk marker body trust discovered!

World Suicide Prevention Day will be celebrated worldwide on September 9, 2025. This day is intended to draw attention to the urgent problems and challenges in the area of ​​suicide prevention. According to the Brandenburg Theodor Fontane Medical School (MHB) People with severe depression are particularly affected. They have an increased risk of suicide and a lower life expectancy, especially those with bipolar illness. Psychiatrists often report unexpected suicide attempts or deaths in patients, even with intensive care.

The challenge of suicide prevention is underscored by the lack of reliable markers to predict acute suicide risk. A team of researchers at MHB has developed a new diagnostic approach that addresses this challenge by identifying body trust. This is about trusting your own body and its signals. Studies show that patients with severe depression have a higher risk of suicide if their body confidence is low.

Diagnostic advances

The new risk marker can be recorded at the beginning of an inpatient stay by asking three simple questions. This enables early identification of patients at risk. Dr. Michael Eggart from the MHB emphasizes the need for reliable markers for suicide prevention. In many cases, the period after discharge from hospital is particularly critical as the risk of suicidal thoughts increases during this time.

Knowledge about suicidality and its connections is crucial. According to current figures, suicide is one of the most common causes of death among younger people in Germany, with over 9,000 people committing suicide every year, including 6,842 men and 2,199 women. This is significant data that illustrates the extent of the problem. The current research shows that suicidal behavior is not only important in psychiatric facilities, but also plays a role in areas such as general medicine and neurology.

A comprehensive approach to suicide prevention

The Federal Center for Health Education points out that the prevention of suicide requires a broad strategy that takes into account individual, somatic and societal factors. A good third of suicides are caused by mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and severe depression, while social isolation and physical illnesses are also key risk factors. A central aspect is the previous suicide attempt, which is considered the strongest risk factor for another suicide.

There is currently no specific guideline on suicidality in adults in Germany, although funding for an S3 guideline “Dealing with suicidality” was approved in August 2021, the publication of which is expected in 2024. This guideline will formulate recommendations for action for various sectors of the healthcare system and is a step in the right direction to improve the quality of medical care.

Designing a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention remains challenging. It is necessary to systematically record suicide attempts and to better remove taboos from the topic. A central office for suicide prevention and a nationwide emergency hotline are considered urgent in order to be able to effectively deal with the estimated 100,000 to 300,000 suicide attempts every year in Germany.