Suicide prevention: new national policy

The Netherlands

Dr Klink, The Netherlands’s Minister of Health, presented to Parliament an agenda for a new national policy on suicide prevention .  This was done in response to a policy advisory document on suicide prevention (prepared by the Trimbos Institute last year).

The document defined suicidality more broadly -  including suicidal ideation, plans and behaviours.  It was recommended that a more prominent role be assumed by the Government, specifically with regard to setting suicide reduction targets, improving monitoring of suicidality and actively promoting the use of guidelines for professionals in the health care sector.

Most recommendations were adopted by the Government.  However disappointment was expressed by the Ivonne van der Ven Foundation when Dr Klink did not see  a central role for the Dutch Government in achieving the policy targets.

Dr Klink’s view was that other parties – such as professional associations, providers of care and local governments,  should carry responsibility in equal measures.  He also said that no financial commitment was  made by the national Government beyond one million euro for the development of an instrument for early detection of suicidal intent in young people.  However Dr Klink did promise to request the co-operation of all parties involved to accomplish suicide prevention targets.

Source of information: Martijn Bool