Three Hundred and Seventy Four geriatric caregivers in Nuremberg and Munich participated in a four-hour advanced in-house training addressing the topic. "depression and suicidality in old age." Geriatric caregivers are key persons in early diagnosis of depressive symptoms and suicidality. The training focused on qualifying and sensitizing caregivers for these topics. A 12-item questionnaire was applied to measure the outcome parameters "knowledge and attitudes towards depression and suicidality in old age" within a pre-, post-, Three-months-follow-up design (rate of return = 58%). Short-term effectiveness of the advanced training "depression in old age" could be shown for most of the items. Significant long-term effects could be found concerning increase of knowledge about pharmacotherapy with antidepressants. Attitude towards "suicide in old age" also changed significantly. The training program was effective in improving knowledge and attitudes of geriatric caregivers concerning depression and suicidality.

Under the common roof of the German Research Network on Depression and Suicidality, scientists, medical doctors, psychotherapists, and several of the most relevant institutions of the German health care system are aligned to proceed against the overlapping health problems of depression and suicidality. The project addresses professionals and scientists, affected patients and their relatives, and the total population at the same time. Comprehensive public relations activities contribute to an overall sensitization concerning the topics of depression and suicidality and inform about diagnosis and treatment options. The network is funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research and was established in 1999. Since then more than 20 individual projects have been initiated. Meanwhile more and more results of these projects become available and increasing efforts are undertaken to transfer these results into elements of standard health care.