Suicide Prevention: Creating a Safer Culture

The Lancet has published an editorial advocating for the creation of a safer culture for suicide prevention. It discusses the findings of two recent reports on suicide prevention, the annual report of the United Kingdom National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness and the National Institutes of Health Advancing Research to Prevent Youth Suicide. The authors conclude, “Preventing suicide is not a hopeless task. It is achievable both within mental health services and at the general population level. Targeted approaches for high-risk individuals can reduce risk, while creating a safe culture in hospitals and in the community is key.”