MONSUE

Title of ongoing research project

MONSUE - a European Multicentre Study on Suicidal Behaviour and Suicide Prevention

Background

MONSUE is an extensive research project, carried out within 15 EU countries and 8 countries within the European region of WHO.

In many European countries, suicidal behaviour constitutes a major public and mental health problem and results in a considerable drain on resources in both primary and secondary health care settings. Therefore, EU and the European region of WHO identified prevention of suicidal behaviour as a main target.

In order to develop primary and secondary prevention strategies indicators for suicidal behaviour are required. Therefore, an important strategy in suicide prevention is not only to initiate and implement suicide preventive programs but also the continuous monitoring of suicides and attempted suicide as well as repetition rates.

Objective

The objective of the research project is to delineate suicide trends and suicide risk groups as well as protective factors and effects of preventive measures.

Future plans

• Development, testing and revision of the common monitoring form
• Assessment of preventive measures in the various catchment areas
• Starting with the monitoring
• Encouragement of preventive activities
• Testing the effects of preventive measures
• Development of guidelines

Method

• Common instruments (Monitoring form)
• Common definition of a catchment area
• Common definition of suicide attempt
• Comparison of measures in the various catchment areas

MONSUE cooperation

The project is based on the experiences of the WHO/EURO Multicentre Study on Suicidal Behaviour and is carried through in collaboration with WHO/EURO Network on Suicide Research and Prevention

Cooperation with the following other EU projects or EUROPEAN or WHO activities:

• WHO/EURO Network on Suicide Research and Prevention
• EAAD (Würzburg, Tallin, and other centres)
• EMIP (WHO Network)
• Various National Suicide Prevention Programs

Status

The research project is initiated in 2006.

Co-ordinator of the project is Prof. Dr. Armin Schmidtke, Dept. for Clinical Psychology, Wurzburg, Germany. A Steering Group has been set up for the conduct of the project.

Contact

Responsible for the Danish part of the project is Director of Centre for Suicide Research, Ph.D. Lilian Zoellner, and statistician Boerge Jensen .

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