[The situation of suicide prevention (author's transl)].

Suicide research has always been especially concerned with the social connections. Its results however have not been sufficiently used for the benefit of suicide prevention. Suicide prevention is linked to a somatically oriented medicine, which is not able to provide with an after care program. To show the present status of practical suicide prevention, an investigation was carried out in Hanover, the result of which postulates for an intesification of social services and psychiatric consulting services; it also demands a support of counseling services by telephone, special information about the possibilities of suicide prevention, and the initiation of suicide prevention centers in big towns, that work with an inter-disciplinary staff.