[Prevention of suicide in the hospital].

Of the 14 cases of suicide during the decade 1969-1978 in the General University Hospital, Bern, 10 were by jumping from windows, 2 by hanging and 2 by drowning (1 outside the hospital area). The typical picture of the suicidal patient is characterized by an accumulation of the following factors: male sex; advanced age; serious illness; psychiatric history (previous suicide attempts); personal, occupational and family problems; social isolation; psychic tension; anxiety; depression; confusion; suicidal talk; suicidal behaviour. The concrete possibilities for suicide prevention are recalled; they consist chiefly in better psychological preparation of therapeutic teams, and can be summarized under three headings: observe, discuss, care.