What are the best practices in suicide prevention?

Suicide is complex, because people are complex. Because of its complexity, there are not many best practices in suicide prevention, but there are four that most organizations, including the World Health Organization, agree upon. 

“Best practice: commercial or professional procedures that are accepted or prescribed as being correct or most effective.”

1. Open and Easy Access to Mental Health Care

 2. Responsible media reporting
We want the media to report on suicide in a way that is sensitive and respectful.

3. Means restriction
It should be difficult for people to access the means to kill themselves, e.g. pesticides, guns, and pills.

4. Education
This can range from public awareness campaigns to technical training for clinicians. This is what we do at the Centre for Suicide Prevention.