NeSuD (12/2017 till 11/2020)
NeSuD stands for Network for Suicide Prevention in Dresden and wants to contribute to an increase of knowledge about psychological stress and suicidality in adolescents and young adults, to inform about professional (regional) help offers and to help overcome barriers in the care of suicide-prone persons.
In concrete terms:
- a regional cross-sectoral network of low to high-threshold aid structures for different target groups should be created, and
- a universal prevention programme on suicide awareness in secondary schools is offered to pupils aged 12 to 18 years.
In the second part of the project, young people between the ages of 12 and 18 are directly informed about mental health and stress as well as about care services. The aim is to reduce the stigmatisation of mental stress and crises, but also mental emergencies, and thus to improve the use of professional help services.
Following the suspension of compulsory schooling in March, 2020, the everyday lives of teachers, students and their parents were turned upside down. We therefore developed an online questionnaire for all of our previous participants. Some of these questions may seem familiar to students who have already completed the first round of questionnaires.
So, why are we asking these questions again?
It is very important for us to assess what students’ answers look like 6 months after participating in the NeSuD project. This way we may assess if and how the knowledge of students regarding mental health issues and help-seeking behaviours have changed over time. Wherever possible, we have conducted these follow-up assessments directly in the students’ classrooms, while following Covid-19 health protocols. We are currently planning to recommence our prevention programs in September, 2020. If you are interested in participating, please contact us at
The project is funded with 42.400,00 € for personnel and material costs for 36 months from funds of the Federal Ministry of Health and is jointly responsible by PD Dr. med. habil. Ute Lewitzka (Werner-Felber-Institut für Suizidprävention und interdisziplinäre Forschung im Gesundheitswesen e.V., Dresden), Prof. Dr. Jürgen Hoyer (Behaviorale Psychotherapie, TU Dresden) and Prof. Dr. Susanne Knappe.
Project staff areM.Sc.-Psych. Luna Grosselli, Dipl.-Psych. Julia Baumgärtel and M.Sc.-Psych. Amal Kebir.