Depression and Suicide on Gotland: an Intensive Study of all Suicides Before and After a Depression-Training Programme for General Practitioners

A retrospective analysis of all 115 consecutive suicides on Gotland between 1981-1992 showed that males & violent methods were overrepresented. 25 had primary major depression. After a 1983 & 1984 education program for physicians on the diagnosis & treatment of depression, the proportion of depressive suicides was significantly lower. It is suggested that the significant decrease in the suicide rate is a direct result of the decrease in depressive suicides in areas served by trained doctors.