Timo Partonen: Suicide prevention in Finland

Suicide prevention in Finland

Timo Partonen, MDMental Health Unit, Department of Health

National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)Finland

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Population: Whole population.Suicide mortality: Per 100,000 persons, with direct age standardization.Source of information: Statistics Finland.

Suicide mortality in Finland in 1969‒2014From 1990 to 2014: –51%

Timo Partonen, THL

19691972

19751978

19811984

19871990

19931996

19992002

20052008

20112014

0

10

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MenWomenTotal

Suici

de m

orta

lity

(per

100

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per

sons

)

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22.96.914.6

599190789

The situation is at its best for the past 90 years (since 1924).

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Historypart of Sweden part of Russia independent

FinlandSweden

Finland as

Suicide mortality

Year

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Towards a national strategyIn the 1970s, a Parliamentary Committee with a focus of national health policy discussion (the Suicide Committee and its report).In the early 1980s, the decision of the Minister of Social Affairs and Health to start a nation-wide suicide prevention program.

The two goals were1. to reverse the increasing trend of suicide mortality2. to decrease the suicide rate by 20% in 10 years (1986‒1996).

The program succeeded (according the internal and external evaluations)• to change practices of professionals, especially in the primary health care• to change the way suicides were reported in the media.

Suicide mortality was reduced by 11% in 1986‒1996 (by 16% in 1992‒1996).

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The 10-year program

Research and program planning phase (1986–1991)• coordinated by National Public Health Institute (KTL)• based on situation analysis, detailed information and original data on suicides,

the National Target and Action Program was prepared for implementation.

Implementation phase (1992–1996)• coordinated by National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and

Health (STAKES)• the recommendations were based on the original data• professionals were mobilized across sectors throughout the country• training was organized throughout the country, practices were developed,

guidebooks were produced, and the newsletter for feedback was published.

KTL + STAKES = THL

Timo Partonen, THL 518 September 2016


Using the psychological autopsy method, all the deaths from suicide in Finland during a period of 12 months were assessed (n=1397).Key findings were• 93% had a mental disorder• 88% had co-morbid conditions (more than one current condition)• depressive disorder in 59%• alcohol use disorder in 43%• personality disorder in 31%• at least one somatic disease in 46%.

Original research findings

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7 keys (the take-home message) to suicide prevention:

1. Develop support and treatment for those who have attempted suicide.2. Improve care for severe depression.3. Learn to prevent alcohol use from becoming a substitute for problem-solving in life.4. Enhance social and psychological support in the treatment of physical conditions.5. Promote mutual and professional support in life crises.6. Prevent the alienation of young citizens. Help them creating opportunities, circumstances and options for coping with life, and having rewarding experiences.7. Encourage among people more belief and enthusiasm in life, as well as self-assurance, perseverance and mutual support.

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Recommendations were based on original data

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Beyond the annual country statistics …

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Women101–506

Men576–1309

Suicides, potential years of life lost (PYLL): aged 0–80 years, per 100,000 persons.Source of information: www.terveytemme.fi


Recent activities in concrete

• KiVa school (kivaprogram.net), 90% of all comprehensive schools, actions against bullying, from 2006.

• Time Out! (tampub.uta.fi/handle/10024/66805), psychosocial support targeted at those conscripts exempted from military or civil service, from 2004.

• Good Hunting Mate! Talk about your worries (theseus.fi/handle/10024/55410), early identification and intervention at hunts, from 2011.

• Suicide prevention best practices exchanged by EUREGENAS (www. euregenas.eu) of 11 regions within the EU in 2012‒2014, including

– General Guidelines on Suicide Prevention– School-based Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention– Preventing and Managing Suicidal Behavior Toolkit for the Workplace– Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Media Professionals.

• Current care guidelines (kaypahoito.fi/web/english/home) by Finnish Medical Society DUODECIM for Bipolar disorder, Borderline personality disorder, Depression, Eating disorders, Insomnia, Post-traumatic stress disorder, and Schizophrenia in 2013‒2015.

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• Time Out! (tampub.uta.fi/handle/10024/66805), psychosocial support program targeted at those conscripts exempted from military or civil service, from 2004.





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• Good Hunting Mate! Talk about your worries, early identification and intervention at hunts (theseus.fi/handle/10024/55410), from 2011.




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• Suicide prevention best practices exchanged by EUREGENAS (www. euregenas.eu) of 11 regions within the EU in 2012‒2014, including– General Guidelines on Suicide Prevention– School-based Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention– Preventing and Managing Suicidal Behavior Toolkit for the

Workplace– Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Media Professionals.



18 September 2016 Timo Partonen, THL









18 September 2016

Timo Partonen

Timo Partonen, MDResearch Professor, National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)

Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry, University of Helsinki

[email protected]

14 (14)18 September 2016

Timo Partonen: Suicide prevention in Finland

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