Its goal is to reduce the risk of repeat suicide attempts by maintaining contact with individuals hospitalized following a suicide attempt. The results show a significant reduction in this risk among those who received this follow-up care. In addition, a health economics study demonstrated that investing in this program would generate cost savings in the healthcare system. VigilanS is part of the national suicide prevention strategy of the Ministry of Health and Prevention.

VigilanS: a significant reduction in the risk of repeat suicide attempts and savings in healthcare costs

Santé publique France was commissioned by the Directorate General for Health to evaluate the effectiveness of the VigilanS program over the 2015–2017 period in the first six regions to pilot it: Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Brittany, Upper and Lower Normandy, Languedoc-Roussillon, and Jura.

The evaluation included 23,146 patients who had attempted suicide, half of whom were exposed to VigilanS and the other half were not. In the first group, 3,214 repeat suicide attempts were identified, compared to 5,014 among patients not exposed to the system. These results show a 38% reduction in the risk of repeat suicide attempts (emergency room visits or hospitalizations for suicide attempts or suicide deaths) within 12 months of their suicide attempt among VigilanS patients. The program’s effectiveness was observed regardless of gender or whether it was the person’s first suicide attempt.

Furthermore, the total amount paid for the VigilanS program during the study period was compared to the cost of suicide attempts prevented over that period. The health economic evaluation showed that every €1 invested in the VigilanS program would save €2 in healthcare costs. On average, €248 in healthcare costs would thus be saved for each patient enrolled in VigilanS.

Suicide Prevention: A Major Public Health Issue

France has a suicide rate higher than the average for other European Union countries¹. Although the number of suicides has been declining over the past 20 years, there are still nearly 9,200 suicide deaths and approximately 200,000 suicide attempts per year in France. Since the start of the health crisis, an increase in emergency room visits due to suicidal thoughts has been observed in the general population.

People who have previously attempted suicide are at particularly high risk of repeat suicide attempts and death by suicide². It is therefore essential to implement prevention measures targeting this population to reduce these risks.

More information:

• Special Report: Mental Health – Suicides and Suicide Attempts

• Mental Health and COVID-19: Suicidal Behavior by Region. Public Health Bulletin, February 2023.

• Mental Health: Monthly Bulletins

• Hospitalizations for suicide attempts in acute care facilities in France during the COVID-19 pandemic: national trends over time in 2020–2021 (Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin)