Follow-up studies strongly suggest that when a person has attempted suicide, the risk of future suicidal behavior, including death by suicide, cannot be "cured". Once a person has tried to solve an emotional crisis with a suicide attempt, this behavioral pattern will quickly re-emerge in similar situations in the future, not only because a suicide attempt provides a - temporary - solution, but also because very often it associated with an immediate sense of relief. The prevailing view emerging from recent developments in suicide research is that, following attempted suicide, it is crucial to establish individual safety strategies with patients for coping differently in future emotional crises. For as many patients as possible to benefit, treatments targeting suicidality should be brief and focused, and, of course, effective.