City councilor Günther Langer lives for others. He dedicates himself to the most vulnerable members of the community: refugees, the poor, the elderly, and the disadvantaged. But he has another side—a dark one.

In episode 134, Sabine Rückert and Andreas Sentker speak with ZEIT crime reporter Anne Kunze about a man with two faces.

ZEIT ONLINE handles the topic of suicide with care, as there are indications that certain forms of reporting can lead to copycat suicides. Researchers call this phenomenon the Werther effect, in reference to Goethe's novel *The Sorrows of Young Werther*, after whose publication a number of young men took their own lives.

Suicidal thoughts resemble a vicious cycle that seems inescapable but can be broken. They are often a consequence of mental illnesses such as psychosis, addiction, personality disorders, and depression, which can be alleviated and even cured with professional help.

Those affected can find help, for example, at the telephone counseling service at 0800 – 111 0 111 and 0800 – 111 0 222. Counselors are available around the clock; every call is anonymous, free of charge, and will not appear on your phone bill or itemized call record. Direct points of contact also include general practitioners and outpatient clinics specializing in suicidality at psychiatric hospitals, which are organized differently depending on the state and region. An overview of numerous counseling services for people with suicidal thoughts can be found, for example, on the website of the German Society for Suicide Prevention:

https://www.suizidprophylaxe.de/

Anyone who suspects that a friend or relative is thinking about suicide should first talk to them about it and support them in seeking professional help. It is important to pay attention to warning signs and take them seriously – approximately 80 percent of all suicides are preceded by warning signs.


Furthermore, general practitioners and psychiatric clinics specializing in suicidality offer support. Not only explicit threats and announcements of suicide are cause for concern, but also indirect expressions of hopelessness such as "Nothing makes sense anymore" or "At some point, it has to end." Furthermore, certain behaviors can indicate suicidal thoughts. For example, people at risk of suicide often want to put their affairs in order, such as giving away valuables or drawing up a will. The decision to end one's life can also make some people with depression feel calmer and less desperate, which is often misinterpreted as an improvement in their mental state.

In addition to the German Society for Suicide Prevention, the Federal Association of Relatives of the Mentally Ill offers support for relatives by phone at 0180 – 59 50 951 and by landline at 0228 – 71 00 24 24, as well as by email at seelefon@psychiatrie.de.












































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The article accompanying the episode (Anne Kunze: A Life on the Slope) was published in the "Discover" section on January 12, 2023:

https://www.zeit.de/2023/03/guenther-...

The new issue of the crime magazine ZEIT Verbrechen is available at newsstands and can be ordered online here:

https://shop.zeit.de/die-zeit-und-mag...

Would you like to try two issues at a special introductory price? Then click here:

https://abo.zeit.de/zv-h2/?icode=01w0...

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