Germany’s First Suicide Prevention Professor Advocates for Targeted Interventions

Professor Ute Lewitzka emphasizes the need for early education, method restriction, and AI-driven prevention strategies to reduce suicide rates.

Ute Lewitzka, Germany's only professor of suicide research, is leading efforts at Goethe University to develop effective prevention methods.
Approximately 10,000 people die by suicide annually in Germany, with men being disproportionately affected due to societal pressures around masculinity.
Key prevention strategies include restricting access to common suicide methods, such as securing high-risk locations and limiting medication quantities.
Lewitzka highlights the importance of early mental health education in schools to teach emotional resilience and relationship skills.
Future prevention efforts may incorporate AI to analyze biological and psychological risk factors, creating tailored support systems for at-risk individuals.