Rethinking suicide prevention in schools starts with implementation

Abstract

Schools offer unparalleled reach for youth suicide prevention, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where access to mental health care is limited. However, poor integration into education systems, short-term funding and weak links between health and education limit the impact of many programs. We call for systemic implementation approaches that embed prevention within school priorities, increase cross-sector collaboration, build on existing initiatives such as anti-bullying programs, and align policy and data to deliver sustainable, scalable strategies that reduce suicide risk among young people.