Year: 1997 Source: International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, v.1, (1997), p.39-46 SIEC No: 20010560

In the years 1983-1984, an educational programme was offered to all general practitioners on the Swedish island of Gotland. During the 1980s this education was shown to lead to a significant decrease in inpatient care, morbidity, suicide, mortality, & costs of depressive illness on the island. The effects faded & unexpectedly, the number of male suicides was almost unaffected. Repeated educational activities in the 1990s again led to a decrease in suicide, mainly among females. The reasons why depressed & suicidal men do not go for medical services are discussed. Strategies for finding & treating suicidal depressives are discussed. One conclusion is that males are as often depressed as females, but in different ways, & that one of the reasons behind the overrepresentation of males among suicide victims is the low rate of diagnosis & treatment of the male depressive syndrome. (48 refs.)