Decriminalisation is a stepping stone in the prevention of suicide and requires the accompaniment of multilevel prevention efforts. IASP aims to identify, and support the implementation of, effective approaches to advocating for the decriminalisation of suicidal behaviour (suicide and attempted suicide) to relevant international and national authorities (e.g., WHO, governments, professional associations, NGOs etc.).

Since IASP adopted its policy position in 2020, six countries have decriminalised attempted suicide, showing that reform is achievable across diverse legal, cultural, and religious contexts. That progress is not guaranteed, however, and recent reversals in some jurisdictions are a reminder that reform must be actively protected through sustained advocacy.

Read IASP’s Policy Position paper on the Decriminalisation of Attempted Suicide (updated 2026), which sets out the evidence base. The paper outlines the global legal landscape, presents the arguments for and against decriminalisation, reviews recent country reforms, and sets out the roles of stakeholders in decriminalising suicidal behaviour.