Förslag till nationellt program för suicidprevention, 969 kB - Statens ...

14 förslag till nationellt program för suicidprevention
Limiting access to the means of suicide
A possible strategy for suicide prevention is to limit access to the means of suicide, such as
certain drugs, household gases, gases from motor vehicles and weapons. Moreover, limited
access to methods of suicide can be accomplished through safety measures in physical
environments such as unprotected locations at high elevations and unsecured traffic environments
in road, railway and subway systems. Limitations to the means of suicide can
furthermore be implemented in certain arenas in society, such as prisons, health care
institutions and special housing for those in need of care. Those in charge of such practices
themselves initiate such measures as part of their ordinary work. A national goal of reduced
suicide rates can further support the work that is already being done.
Treating suicide prevention as the handling of psychological mistakes
Within psychological research, studies have been made in order to explore why people
make mistakes that can have fatal consequences, such as human error accidents in industry
and traffic. The results of this research are used when measures aimed at minimising the
consequences of human error are set up.
Suicide can be viewed as a psychological mistake since most people surviving an
attempted suicide a few years later have a desire to live. Research in human error points to
two types of preventive measures – measures directed at the individual and measures
directed at the environment in which the individual lives. Both types of measures are covered
in this investigation.
Individually based measures include development of problem solving skills and the
ability to handle negative thoughts, including thoughts of suicide, without being overwhelmed
by them. Environmentally based measures include several areas of action. Some concern
physical aspects such as drug packaging and safety barriers on exposed bridges. Others
concern the way in which people in the surroundings deal with individuals that are depressed
and express suicidal thoughts. There are several players that can affect the physical and
psychosocial environments in which people live. When it comes to young people, several
important players are to be found in municipal organisations, such as schools, organised
leisure activities and traffic administration.
In a large number of municipalities there are local groups working with injury prevention.
A basis for this work is local injury data, collected and presented by the health care
administration. Extensive experience has shown that locally based injury prevention is
effective, and that this practise could also be extended to include self-inflicted injuries. If
local injury prevention groups were given information on suicide data, they could take
action on suicide prevention, particularly when it comes to measures directed at young
people. Since all suicides are investigated at forensic departments, such information is
available.