Suicide prevention in the WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP)

Suicide is a major public health problem accounting for almost one million deaths every year worldwide. Suicide and suicide attempts cause an immense burden to societies, not only in numbers, but also in the  suffering experienced by those affected directly and by those in their surroundings, such as family, friends, and colleagues. The inclusion of self harm/ suicide as a priority condition in the World Health  organization (WHO) Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) brings the potential to not only change, but also to save the lives of many. In clinical practice, those who present with self-harm are not being managed effectively and evidence-based practice is not being implemented. The publication of the mhGAP and its Intervention Guide represents a major opportunity for changing clinical practice.