Selbstmord

Suicide, the act of taking one's own life voluntarily and intentionally. In Austria the suicide rate (number of suicides per 100,000 inhabitants)dropped between 1983 and 1993 from 27,0 (2041 cases) to 21,3 (1704 cases). Suicide prevention is an important concern of psychotherapy and clinical psychology. An Austrian pioneer in the field of suicide prevention who enjoyed a world-wide reputation was E. Ringel.

Literature: H. Pohlheimer, Selbstmord und Selbstmord-Verhütung, ²1983; E. Ringel (ed.), Selbstmord-Verhütung, ⁴1987; G. Sonneck, Krisenintervention und Suizidverhütung, ²1991.