Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) intends to reduce the suicide rate in Germany by implementing a central crisis hotline and establishing a new Federal Special Agency. This plan is outlined in a draft bill aimed at strengthening national suicide prevention, as reported by Politico.
Currently, more than 10,000 people lose their lives annually to suicide in Germany-a number surpassing the combined total from traffic accidents, illegal drugs, and HIV. Warken has detailed her approach to addressing this serious issue.
A key part of her plan is the introduction of a central crisis hotline. According to the draft, the number is designed to offer accessible and anonymous support during crises, thereby helping to lower the number of suicides. This hotline would also be able to redirect callers to regional assistance services.
The development and oversight of this crisis hotline will fall under a new Federal Special Agency, which is slated to operate within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health. The legal draft stipulates that the establishment of this Federal Special Agency will be limited to a total period of fifteen years from the date of its founding. The annual operating costs for the agency are estimated to be approximately 1.48 million euros, and its work is scheduled to be evaluated by December 31, 2038.
To support the new agency, an expert advisory board comprising up to eleven members is planned. These advisory board members will serve voluntarily and will be appointed by the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) for five-year terms.
