Suicide Prevention Week takes place from 6 to 13 September

Some organisations in Waldeck-Frankenberg already offer suicide prevention services. But what exactly are these services and where can affected people and their relatives find support? The "Suicide Prevention" working group, consisting of the Diakonisches Werk Waldeck-Frankenberg, the town of Korbach, the Haus für Körper, Geist und Seele and the health service of the Waldeck-Frankenberg district, would like to find out and make the existing services more visible and therefore more accessible to citizens.

At the same time, the working group is developing campaigns together with various providers to raise awareness of the topic of "suicide prevention". The next campaign will take place from 6 to 13 September: The Suicide Prevention Days for adults and the "Strong in Life" programme for teenagers and young adults with many different offers designed to raise awareness and provide support.

Around 10,000 people take their own lives in Germany every year - 23 of them in the Waldeck-Frankenberg district in 2023. However, the number of suicide attempts is significantly higher. The "Suicide Prevention" working group would like to draw attention to the services available in the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg and contribute to destigmatising the topic of suicide. The first event organised by the working group was the Suicide Prevention Week North Hesse in Korbach in February. This will be followed in September by the Suicide Prevention Days for adults and the "Strong in Life" programme for teenagers and young adults with a variety of different offers.

The event will kick off with a screening of the film "Der letzte schöne Tag" on 8 September at 18:00 in the Twisteseehalle in Wetterburg, organised by the Kreisverband der Treffpunkte e. V. (District Association of Meeting Points). The film will be followed by a dialogue to encourage discussion. The event is aimed at people aged 16 and over and will also take place on 9 September in Frankenberg, on 10 September in Korbach and on 11 September in the Theater im Kurpark in Bad Wildungen. On 9 September, the Vitos Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Haina invites you to take part in the interactive "Gedankengänge" course. This will highlight various stages between the wish to die and life and offer an insight into the topic.

Another item on the programme is the self-assertion course for queer people, which will take place on 10 September at the Korbach youth centre. The event is aimed at people aged between 16 and 30. On 12 September, a lively poetry slam entitled "Loud for life" will be held at the Korbach youth centre. Participants are invited to express their thoughts and feelings in words and move the audience. At the end of the week, the House for Body, Mind and Soul will open its doors on 13 September for an open day, offering deeper insights into the prevention and therapy services on offer. World Suicide Prevention Day will also take place on 10 September. On this day, events on this topic will be organised throughout Germany.

Keywords:

Crisis management Self-help Life counselling Social psychiatric service