Controlling the environment to prevent suicide: International perspectives

Background: Suicide and suicidal behaviour are multifaceted events requirin g complex solutions. Controlling the environment vironment is a neglected s olution, despite strong support for this approach from the World Health Org anization (WHO). Method: To discuss this approach from a global view, this review is written by authors from various cultures. American, Australian. Canadian, Chinese, Cuban, Dutch, Indian, Irish, Japanese, Lithuanian, Native North American, Russian, and South African. Results: We examine gun control illustrate the environmental control approa ch, however, the worldwide diversity of suicide methods calls for diverse r esponses. Further, controlling the environment encompasses more than restri cting the means of suicide, which we illustrate with examples of toned-down media reports and restricted medicine availability. Conclusions: Controlling the environment may be viable strategy for prevent ing suicide, although research shows that few clinicians implement such app roaches.