Suicide and Assisted Suicide in Switzerland: Consequences for Suicide Prevention

Abstract

As in other countries, in Switzerland, the rate of suicide is highest in the elderly. Assisted suicide is allowed and mostly exerted by private organizations like EXIT. The number of assisted suicide cases has doubled during the last five years and is expected to increase. It is mainly committed by women. In the age group 80 + y the number is higher than the number of suicides. To reduce the number of suicides by 25% by 2030, the federal authorities have issued a national action plan in November 2016. It includes preventive means like reduction of access to methods (weapons, drugs), construction of bridges and buildings, education of lays and professionals and specific treatment of those who have attempted suicide. There has been a position paper of Swiss public health concerning suicide prevention in the elderly. Both papers will be presented and discussed.

Concerning assisted suicide there is a broad discussion on the control of the state and on the role of physicians in the process. A survey of Swiss physicians showed much ambivalence. Position papers of gerontological and geriatric societies focused on the role loneliness and the provision of adequate psychiatric help, e.g. for depression, and the overestimation of autonomy.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.