A new paper titled “Key Priorities, Challenges, Strengths, and Opportunities for Suicide Prevention in Southeast Asia: Insights from the Partnerships for Life Regional Workshop on suicide prevention” has been published in the Asian Journal of Psychiatry. This publication follows the first regional workshop on suicide prevention conducted by the Southeast Asian region of the IASP Partnerships for Life initiative in February 2024.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that almost 77% of all global suicides occur in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). The paper underscores the importance of strategies tailored to the unique cultural and socio-economic contexts of Southeast Asia, highlighting the key priorities, challenges, strengths, and opportunities within the region. Its insights are given with “a view to inform resource-effective suicide prevention strategies that have optimal utility and uptake”.
Highlights:
- Suicide prevention efforts are limited by high treatment gap and unique demographic profile.
- Key priority areas are reducing stigma, augmenting capacity, and improving awareness.
- Major challenges are absence of national suicide prevention strategy and resource constraints.
- Possible solutions include leveraging technology and formulating regional networks.
The paper is accessible online here.
Led by Professor Vikas Menon, the team included Dr Lakshmi Vijayakumar, Associate Professor Anish V Cherian, Farzana Ahmed, Associate Professor Virtu Chongtham, Professor Chencho Dorji, Dr Kamal Gautam, Abdullah Al Harun, Fathimath Hudha, Rubina Jahan, Dr Rishav Koirala, Isa Multazam Noor, Professor Supa Pengpid, Professor Thilini Rajapakse, Manuel dos Santos, Parbati Shrestha, Khin Yadana Soe, Dr Chathurie Suraweera, Win Moh Moh Thit and Associate Professor Gregory Armstrong.
