continue to have an in-depth discussion with the Federal Ministry of the Interior on dealing with language barriers in the medical area. In the course of commenting on the proposals of the NPM, the Federal Ministry of the Interior proposed the use of an (additional) working group with experts from the NPM and the Ministry to engage in a joint dialogue on the topic of suicide prevention in police detention. The NPM accepted the invitation and nominated its representatives, most of which have medical or psychological expertise. Employees of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the police departments of Vienna and Lower Austria, the medical head of the association Verein Dialog and outside experts take part in the working group on behalf of the Ministry. The composition of the group is interdisciplinary; the members are psychiatrists, neurologists, police (department) physicians, psychologists and attorneys. Ministry proposes working group The primary aim of the working group established in June 2015 is to jointly develop uniform guidelines for suicide prevention in police detention, which the Federal Ministry of the Interior can issue in the form of a decree. The topics are identification of suicidal tendencies at the initial examination and assessment of fitness to undergo detention as well as dealing with persons who are suicidal and caring for them during continued detention. This has led to numerous additional questions, e.g. relating to the design of the medical history sheet, the use of interpreters at medical examinations and consultations, medical documentation, structural preventive measures, the creation of a suicide-preventive environment, the furnishings in the inmate cells, the acceptance of dangerous items and detention in single cells. Regular training sessions for medical staff and law enforcement officers are of great importance to suicide prevention (e.g. recognition of warning signals and signs of potential suicide risk, ability to lead conversations). Responsibilities of the working group As of the editorial deadline for this report, the working group has held three meetings and the first results have already been achieved. The working group examined the completeness, comprehensibility and suitability of the medical history sheet and revised the questions regarding the state of the detainee’s health. The participants agreed that the medical history sheet can only be one instrument to assist in assessing any risk for suicide. Direct communication with detainees – through an interpreter, if necessary – is the best and most important instrument for assessing the warning signals, apart from ongoing surveillance of inmates. The discussions also included the topic of establishing suitable auxiliary structures. The members of the working group considered, for example, whether clinical psychologists or even crisis intervention teams can be systematically involved and, if so, how. This would have an advantage where there is a lack of psychiatrists – i.e. mainly outside of Vienna. Technically trained staff can jump in for necessary crisis interventions and support police physicians in police detention centres and police stations. As of the editorial deadline for this report, the form in which psychologists or crisis intervention teams could be used in a meaningful way for suicide prevention remained an open Lack of psychiatrists 127