Suicidal thoughts and attempts in Germany: results from a national health survey
Abstract
Background: The systematic collection of population-level data on suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts is essential for effective suicide prevention and public mental health practice. Like many other countries, Germany lacks a surveillance system for non-fatal suicidal behavior.
Methods: We analysed survey-weighted, representative data from 27,102 adults participating in the 2024 annual survey from the Health in Germany panel, a nationally representative population-based survey. Twelve-month and lifetime prevalences of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts were estimated, and sociodemographic patterns and reported service contacts following suicide attempts (hospital including emergency department, police, crisis hotline/chat) were described.
Results: In 2024, 6.0% (95% CI: 5.6%–6.4%) of adults reported suicidal thoughts in the past 12 months, and 18.0% (95% CI: 17.4%–18.7%) over their lifetime. Suicide attempts were reported by 0.6% (95% CI: 0.4%–0.7%) in the past year and 4.8% (95% CI: 4.5%–5.3%) over the lifetime, corresponding to approximately 399,050 (95% CI: 295,340–502,761) and 3,349,004 (95% CI: 3,044,451–3,653,557) adults in Germany, respectively. Higher prevalences were observed among younger adults and individuals with lower educational attainment and household income. Women reported a higher lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts than men. Among those reporting a suicide attempt, 41.5% (95% CI: 37.5%–45.7%) had contact with a hospital, 11.8% (95% CI: 9.0%–15.3%) with the police, and 9.8% (95% CI: 7.4%–12.9%) with a crisis hotline or chat service following their most recent suicide attempt, while 53.8% (95% CI: 49.7%–57.8%) reported no contact with any of the assessed services.
Conclusions: Non-fatal suicidal behaviour represents a substantial and socially patterned public health burden. Continuously collected survey data can form an important component of suicidality surveillance systems aiming to provide a timely evidence base for suicide prevention.
Key messages: • Non-fatal suicidal behaviour is a substantial and socially patterned public health burden in Germany, highlighting the need for suicidality surveillance
• Regular population-based survey data on suicidal behaviour can provide timely evidence for prevention planning and public mental health action
Related
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BibTeX
@article{gonzalezalvarez2026suicidal,
title = {{Suicidal thoughts and attempts in Germany: results from a national health survey}},
author = {MA Gonzalez-Alvarez and J Talamo and C Schlump and M Fahrenwald and I Öztürk and A Meier and K Pöge and N Michalski and L Walther},
journal = {The European Journal of Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.356},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.356},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Suicidal thoughts and attempts in Germany: results from a national health survey
AU - MA Gonzalez-Alvarez
AU - J Talamo
AU - C Schlump
AU - M Fahrenwald
AU - I Öztürk
AU - A Meier
AU - K Pöge
AU - N Michalski
AU - L Walther
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - The European Journal of Public Health
DO - 10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.356
UR - https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.356
AB - Background: The systematic collection of population-level data on suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts is essential for effective suicide prevention and public mental health practice. Like many other countries, Germany lacks a surveillance system for non-fatal suicidal behavior. Methods: We analysed survey-weighted, representative data from 27,102 adults participating in the 2024 annual survey from the Health in Germany panel, a nationally representative population-based survey. Twelve-month and lifetime prevalences of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts were estimated, and sociodemographic patterns and reported service contacts following suicide attempts (hospital including emergency department, police, crisis hotline/chat) were described. Results: In 2024, 6.0% (95% CI: 5.6%–6.4%) of adults reported suicidal thoughts in the past 12 months, and 18.0% (95% CI: 17.4%–18.7%) over their lifetime. Suicide attempts were reported by 0.6% (95% CI: 0.4%–0.7%) in the past year and 4.8% (95% CI: 4.5%–5.3%) over the lifetime, corresponding to approximately 399,050 (95% CI: 295,340–502,761) and 3,349,004 (95% CI: 3,044,451–3,653,557) adults in Germany, respectively. Higher prevalences were observed among younger adults and individuals with lower educational attainment and household income. Women reported a higher lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts than men. Among those reporting a suicide attempt, 41.5% (95% CI: 37.5%–45.7%) had contact with a hospital, 11.8% (95% CI: 9.0%–15.3%) with the police, and 9.8% (95% CI: 7.4%–12.9%) with a crisis hotline or chat service following their most recent suicide attempt, while 53.8% (95% CI: 49.7%–57.8%) reported no contact with any of the assessed services. Conclusions: Non-fatal suicidal behaviour represents a substantial and socially patterned public health burden. Continuously collected survey data can form an important component of suicidality surveillance systems aiming to provide a timely evidence base for suicide prevention. Key messages: • Non-fatal suicidal behaviour is a substantial and socially patterned public health burden in Germany, highlighting the need for suicidality surveillance • Regular population-based survey data on suicidal behaviour can provide timely evidence for prevention planning and public mental health action
SN - 1101-1262
SN - 1464-360X
ER -