Much can be done at individual, community and national levels to prevent suicide and suicide attempts.
WHO’s LIVE LIFE approach recommends four effective, evidence-based key interventions which should be included in every national response to suicide:
- limit access to the means of suicide
- interact with the media for responsible reporting of suicide
- foster socio-emotional life skills in adolescents
- early identify, assess, manage and follow up anyone who is affected by suicidal behaviours.
The foundational pillars of the interventions are situation analysis, multisectoral collaboration, awareness raising, capacity building, financing, surveillance, monitoring and evaluation.
Suicide prevention efforts require coordination and collaboration among multiple sectors, including health, education, labour, agriculture, business, justice, law, defence, politics and the media. Suicide prevention is often not adequately addressed because of stigma and lack of awareness that suicide is a major public health problem.
Communities also play a crucial role in preventing suicide. The WHO community engagement toolkit guides communities in identifying priorities and implementing activities according to local contexts.
