Suicide prevention counselling sessions
Caption: First Deputy District Administrator Karl-Friedrich Frese, Meike Pape and Yvonne Wieck from the Health Department present the new service: suicide prevention consultation hours. Photo: Waldeck-Frankenberg District
First Deputy District Administrator and Head of the Health Department, Karl-Friedrich Frese, has highlighted a new service offered by the Health Department, which is set to begin in November. Under the slogan “Talking saves lives – We’re here for you!”, suicide prevention consultation hours will take place every Tuesday from 2 pm to 4 pm. The consultation sessions will be held alternately at the district administration offices in Korbach and Frankenberg, the branch office in Bad Wildungen, and – with the support of the town of Bad Arolsen – at the town hall there. Anonymous counselling is available, and individual appointments can also be arranged outside of consultation hours.
The need to provide an explicit counselling service on this issue within the district became clear through the work of the ‘Suicide Prevention Network’. Statistics show that between 2014 and 2024, there were between 14 and 32 suicides per year in Waldeck-Frankenberg; across Germany as a whole, the figure stands at 10,000 suicides. It is reasonable to assume that the actual number of suicides is far higher – the number of unreported cases is very high.
For those affected and their loved ones – including colleagues and friends – accessing the counselling and treatment system is often difficult, as this is a highly taboo subject and there are fears of being subjected to measures against one’s will and of being stigmatised. The services offered by the Specialist Health Service are therefore designed to provide a safe space where the issue can be discussed openly. During the suicide prevention consultation, information is also provided on further support and treatment options.
Specially trained professionals are available to provide expert advice. However, it is important to note – and this must be borne in mind – that this is not a form of treatment or therapy, and the consultation hours do not replace either. No appointment is required for the consultation hours; the specialists, Meike Pape and Yvonne Wieck, can be contacted by telephone on 05631 954-5811 and -5813.
Locations and times for the suicide prevention consultation service
- First week of the month: Health Services Department, Südring 3, 34497 Korbach
- Second week of the month: Health Services Department, Bahnhofstr. 17, 35066 Frankenberg
- Third week of the month: Health Services Department, Lindenstr. 5–7, 34537 Bad Wildungen
- 4th week of the month: Bad Arolsen Town Hall, Große Allee 26, Room 101, 34454 Bad Arolsen