The Suicide Research Unit (ESO) conducts scientific research on the epidemiology, neurobiology, prevention, and treatment of suicidal behaviour.
This website provides an overview of our current and completed research projects. It also offers access to the latest data and insights on suicide attempts and suicidal behaviour in Flanders.
Research projects Publications
The Suicide Research Unit (ESO), based at Ghent University, coordinates and advances scientific research within the Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology.
Founded in 1996, the unit builds on research initiated in 1986 and has since developed into a leading centre for the study of suicidal behaviour. Its multidisciplinary research programme focuses on epidemiology, neurobiology, prevention, and treatment, grounded in the biological, psychological, and social determinants of suicide.
A cornerstone of the unit’s work is its long-running monitoring study, which includes anonymised data from over 10,000 suicide attempts—making it one of the largest databases of its kind in Europe.
ESO actively collaborates with research institutions across Europe and contributes to international, multicentre studies, including initiatives coordinated by the World Health Organization and the European Commission.
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