Suicide prevention is everybody's business

Abstract

There have been many suicide prevention initiatives, some focused on the individual, some on the environment, some on systems and some on carers and caregivers, with each contributing to reducing suicide risk. Suicide is preventable and prevention should be everybody's business. We are grateful to Wiley, the Asia-Pacific Psychiatry and the Editor in Chief, Professor Allan Tasman for commissioning this special issue of the journal focused on suicide prevention. I am also grateful to Michelle Riba, Lakshmi Vijayakumar, Tsuyoshi Akiyama, Soumitra Pathare, Danuta Wasserman, Norman Sartorius and David Goldberg for the support that they have provided in preparing this special issue, and to all our peer reviewers for their contribution. Suicide prevention in childhood and adolescence (Wasserman et al., 2021) highlights some of the key papers in the field providing the building blocks for understanding what is required to prevent suicide in this age group noting that many countries have achieved reductions in rates of suicide. This reduction is not universal, and those countries that have increased rates need to look at what interventions have been successful in other parts of the world to reduce rates of suicide in childhood and adolescence further. Adopting the concept that suicide prevention is everybody's business is likely to be helpful because it will enable a holistic approach to addressing this problem. Suicide prevention in psychiatric patients (Wasserman, Carli, et al., 2021) highlights that the provision of cognitive behavior therapy and other brief interventions, including psychoeducation to people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia can decrease the risk of suicide and provides a summary of interventions that reduce risk of suicide in a range of mental disorders recommending a comprehensive suicide risk assessment as the first step in providing effective suicide prevention in psychiatric patients. Suicide prevention in older adults (de Mendoça Lima et al., 2021) in this special issue brings together the dynamic interaction of community, systems and individuals and its importance in reducing rates of suicide in older adults, noting that a public health approach is essential. Reducing access to methods of suicide is also important. In his review, McInnis et al. (2021) examine the issue of access to firearms suggesting self-exclusion agreements as a potential way forward. This is innovative, non-stigmatizing and gives the power to an individual with a known mood disorder to protect themselves and society and is especially important for countries where issues of gun control can be divisive and political. Families and carers matter and should not be forgotten as part of a of protective network that can support an individual during periods when they are at increased risk of suicide. Edwards et al. (2021) propose a practical way of history taking, including emotional engagement, that enables the family member who is feeling suicidal to feel respected, understood, with a sense of belonging to mobilize hope. The impact of COVID-19 on suicide rates globally cannot be ignored. Ivbijaro et al. (2021) narrative review brings together emerging ideas about what needs to be done, especially in the face of increasing economic hardship for some sectors of society as a direct result of this pandemic. Governments and the community play an important role in suicide prevention. This is highlighted in the review of Okamura et al. (2021) from Japan who reinforce the importance of cooperation across the full range of community organizations to reduce rates of suicide once more emphasizing that suicide prevention is everybody's business. Low and middle-income countries account for 79% of global suicide deaths. Vijayakumar et al. (2021) provide a descriptive mapping review of the literature in vulnerable populations highlighting the need for culturally appropriate interventions and strategies to prevent suicide. This Asia-Pacific Psychiatry Special Issue on Suicide Prevention reinforces the need for suicide prevention strategies that address multiple factors across society and across the lifespan highlighting that suicide prevention must be everybody's business, and not just something left for psychiatry or governments alone. DOI: 10.1111/appy.12483