Between December 2024 and February 2026, the Partnerships for Life – Global Initiative to Prevent Suicide undertook a situation analysis on suicide and its prevention. The intention was to assist in the development and maintenance of suicide prevention strategies, programmes and activities by identifying the context for suicide and its prevention in as many countries as possible. This process included identifying the complexities of suicide within the country, the status of the health sector, the social, economic, cultural and political context in which it operates, religious and cultural norms, relevant national policies, and those people who are affected by suicide and its aftermath.
Under the leadership of Global Lead, Professor Steve Platt and International Adviser, Vanda Scott, and with the input of the Steering Group, a three-stage process was implemented through the Regional Coordinators and their teams:
Stage 1 was applied as a desk-research exercise in cases in which little was known about the country context, or where the regional team had limited or no existing contacts, identifying key contextual information on each country. Stage 2 was based around an online questionnaire for contacts in countries where relationships with key players were new, or where the country was in the early stages of its policy response to suicide. Stage 3, another online questionnaire, asked for much more detailed information on countries which were further along in their policy response.
The first data collection cycle has now been completed. In total, 67 full country responses were received at either Stage 2 or 3, for which the Steering Group is extremely grateful. Responses provide a rich source of information on the availability and reliability of data on suicide deaths and attempted suicide, government policy, suicide research and prevention, the existence and implementation of national suicide prevention strategies, plans, policies and legislation, suicide prevention programmes and activities, suicide research and prevention facilities and services.
The Partnerships for Life – Global Initiative to Prevent Suicide Steering Group is now reviewing the data and identifying its next steps.
