Over €3m committed to suicide prevention, research

Minister Edith Schippers of Public Health has made 3.2 million euros available for research into suicide prevention for the next four years. She announced this at the opening of "De Vogelvanger" exhibition, dedicated to suicide prevention, at the Nederlands Uitvaarmuseum.

Suicide prevention is a top priority for the minister as the number of suicides in the Netherlands has been increasing for years. Early last year the national suicide prevention agenda was sent to the Tweede Kamer, lower house of parliament. This agenda is based on an integrated effort on preventing suicide from various parties including health care, media, education and socioeconomic parties.

Schippers wants the taboo on speaking about suicide to be removed. "Many people think that talking about suicide means that you might push someone over the edge. While in fact talking about it can save lives."