Rethinking suicide prevention: insights from the global south for a new global agenda

Despite decades of scientific advances, suicide remains a global public health challenge shaped by deep social, economic and cultural inequalities. Although substantial resources have been allocated to prevention efforts, these strategies have overwhelmingly been designed, tested and implemented based on evidence generated in high-income countries. As a result, the models and interventions commonly adopted worldwide often fail to adequately capture the diverse realities of the global south. Here we argue that the global south offers critical insights for rethinking suicide prevention, illustrating how socioeconomic factors, cultural practices and community connection and resilience shape mental health outcomes and suicide risk. Rather than relying exclusively on individual-centered, clinical approaches, a broader and more context-sensitive framework is necessary, one that integrates structural determinants, promotes social justice and values epistemological diversity. Through an analysis of epidemiological trends, mental health constructs, cultural practices, theoretical frameworks and public policy interventions, this Perspective proposes a reconceptualization of suicide-prevention strategies that move beyond traditional paradigms. This Perspective challenges the traditional approaches to suicide prevention research, which are often rooted in studies from high-income countries. It advocates for culturally informed, community-based strategies, drawing on successful examples from the global south.