The most recent suicide figures in Flanders in  2022, showed that 1024 people died by suicide in Flanders, including 706 men and 318 women. These figures are probably an underestimate, given that in that year there were 478 deaths whose intention was difficult to determine. Recent data also show a slight increase in girls and women (Department of Health Care, 2024). Certain groups within our society have an increased risk of suicidal behavior including men in general and older men specifically, LGBTQ+ persons and young people specifically for suicide attempts. In addition, there are also gaps in knowledge about the risk of certain target groups in Flanders because the suicide rates are not specific enough to include ethnic background and professional background. International studies show that e.g. persons with an ethnic background have an increased risk of suicidal behavior as well as certain professional groups including physicians, veterinarians, farmers, police, ... More focused research in Flanders is needed to get a better understanding of whether or not these target groups have an increased risk of suicidal behavior.

In this way, more targeted prevention and intervention methodologies can be developed and examined.

For example, current forms of therapy and prevention methodologies based on Western models are not always effective for people from non-Western backgrounds due to cultural differences and different conceptualizations of illness and health (Bhugra et al., 2014; Rathod et al., 2018; Norcross & Wampold, 2018). Pursuing suicide prevention across cultural, racial, ideological, gender, and age boundaries is critical.

Given the lack of epidemiological data available in Flanders (Belgium) regarding the prevalence of suicidal behavior within the aforementioned target groups, the first phase of the project aims to set up a study to map this. This will allow to answer the question whether these target groups have an increased risk of suicidal behavior and thus constitute a risk group for which specific prevention strategies should be developed. If these needs are demonstrated by the epidemiological research, then the etiological factors that increase the risk of suicidal behavior within these target groups will be identified. On this basis, targeted prevention and / or intervention methods will be developed and examined for efficacy and safety.