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Suicide Prevention
Scientific Information: Prevention Strategies

Suicide is a serious problem that can have lasting harmful effects on individuals, families, and communities. The goal for the prevention of suicidal behavior is simple: stop it from happening in the first place. However, the solutions are just as complex as the problem.

Prevention efforts should ultimately reduce risk factors and promote protective factors. In addition, prevention should address all levels that influence suicide: individual, relationship, community, and society. Effective prevention strategies are necessary to promote awareness about suicide and to foster a commitment to social change.

Effective and Promising Programs

Suicide Prevention Resource Center*
The Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC), in collaboration with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), maintains the Best Practices Registry (BPR). This project is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The purpose of the BPR is to identify, review, and disseminate information about best practices that address specific objectives of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. The BPR has three sections: Section I: Evidence-Based Programs (including 1a: SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices; and 1b: SPRC/AFSP Evidence-Based Practices); Section II: Expert and Consensus Statements; and Section III: Adherence to Standards.

Systematic Reviews

• Crowley P, Kilroe J, Burke S. Youth suicide prevention: evidence briefing. Ireland: Institute of Public Health in Ireland, Health Development Agency; 2004.

• Goldsmith SK, Pellmar TC, Kleinman AM, Bunney WE, eds. Reducing suicide: a national imperative. Washington DC: National Academy Press; 2002. Available on-line at http://www.nap.edu/books/0309083214/html/.*

• Gould MS, Greenberg T, Velting DM & Shaffer D. Youth suicide risk and preventive interventions: A review of the past 10 years. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 2003;42:386-405.

• Gunnell DJ. The potential for preventing suicide: a review of the literature on the effectiveness of interventions aimed at preventing suicide. Bristol: HCEU, University of Bristol; 1994.

• Guo B, Harstall C. Efficacy of suicide prevention programmers for children and youth. Edmonton: Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, Health Technology Assessment, Report No. HTA 26; 2002.

• Guo B, Scott A, Bowker S. Suicide prevention strategies: Evidence from systematic reviews. Edmonton: Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, Health Technology Assessment, Report No. HTA 28; 2003.

• Hawton K, Townsend E, Arensman E, Gunnell D, Hazell P,House A, et al. Psychosocial and pharmacological treatments for deliberate self harm. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews 1999; issue 4, art.No.:CD001764.DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001764.

• Knox, KL. Interventions to prevent suicidal behavior. In: Doll L, Bonzo S, Sleet D, Mercy J, Hass E, eds. Handbook of injury and violence prevention. New York, NY: Springer; 2007. p.183-201.

• Linehan MM. Behavioral treatments of suicidal behaviors. New York: Annals New York Academy of Sciences; 1997. p. 302-29.

• Mann JJ, Apter A, Bertolote J, et al. Suicide prevention strategies: a systematic review. Journal of the American Medical Association 2005;294;2064-74.

• National Health and Medical Research Council. National youth suicide prevention strategy-setting the evidence-based research agenda for Australia. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia Department of Health and Aged Care; 1999.

• Ploeg J, Ciliska D, Dobbins M, Hayward S, Thomas H, Underwood J. A systematic overview of adolescent suicide prevention programs. Canadian Journal of Public Health 1996;87(5):319-24.

• Ploeg J, Ciliska D, Brunton G, MacDonnell J, O'Brien MA. The effectiveness of school-based curriculum suicide prevention programs for adolescents. Dundas, ON: Region of Hamilton-Wentworth, Social and Public Health Services Division, Community Support and Research Branch, PHRED Program, Effective Public Health Practice Project; 1999. pages i-31.

• White J, Jodoin N. "Before-the-fact" interventions: a manual of best practices in youth suicide prevention. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: British Columbia Ministry for Children and Families; 1998.

• World Health Organization Evidence Network. For which strategies of suicide prevention is there evidence of effectiveness? Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe. Updated 2004 November 1; Last accessed 2005 April 30. Available at http://www.euro.who.int/eprise/main/WHO/Progs/HEN/Syntheses/
  suicideprev/20040712_2. *

World Report on Violence and Health *
This report is the first comprehensive review of violence on a global scale. Chapter 7 provides detailed information on self-directed violence, including prevention strategies.

Guidelines and Planning Tools

National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
Department of Health and Human Services *
The National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (NSSP) is the first attempt in the United States to prevent suicide through a systematic approach. It lays out a framework for developing an array of suicide prevention services and programs. The NSSP emphasizes coordination of resources and the application of culturally appropriate services at all levels of government and in the private sector.

Other Resources 

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