[It is possible to achieve a reduction of the suicide rate in psychiatric clinics (author's transl)].

On the basis of an investigation of 17 suicides and 13 attempted suicides which were committed between 1969 and 1979 in the psychiatric department of the Salzburg Mental Hospital, this paper discusses the question of suicide prevention. The emphasis of the present study lies on communication-theoretical considerations. We have found, among other things, that in an attempted suicide the patient unconsciously or (and) consciously manipulates his social context into communication-seeking behaviour (Zuwendungsverhalten), in a suicide, on the other hand, he manipulates it into communication-refusing behavior (Abwendungsverhalten). Although it is surely impossible to prevent all suicides, it must be possible to achieve a reduction of the suicide rate in psychiatric clinics. Concrete proposals to this end are put forward.