Reducing suicides through an alliance against depression?

Abstract Background Since 2003, the Regensburg Alliance Against Depression, the regional partner of the German Alliance Against Depression, has been conducting a four-level intervention program to improve early detection and treatment of patients with depression, which was successfully piloted in the framework of the German Research Network on Depression and Suicidality. Methods After 5 years of campaign, the suicide rates before and after the intervention were evaluated in comparison with two control regions and with the German overall rate. Findings The results show that only the suicide rate in Regensburg fell significantly during the intervention period. The drop in the suicide rate was due to a significant decrease in male suicides. Interpretation An intensive community-based campaign could be effective in lowering suicide rates. Especially, the combination of continuing medical educations (CMEs) for general practitioners focusing on ‘male depression’ and low-threshold campaigns for the general public seems to reach male depressive patients.