#MHForAll Webinar: Creating Hope Through Action on Suicide
In our August #MHForAll webinar, a panel of experts explored the challenges as well as the potential solutions for preventing suicide and discussed recent legislative changes that offer hope in reducing stigma and increasing access to life-saving interventions.
Expert panellists:
Prof. Rory O’Connor - President, International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP)
Renato Oliviera - Chief, Mental Health and Substance Use, Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO)
Dr. Shahidul Islam - Program Manager, Non-Communicable Diseases Program, Directorate General of Health Services Bangladesh
Dr Mark Sinyor - Lead for the International Partnerships for Life Initiative in the Americas
Judah Njoroge - Youth Advocate, Basic Needs Kenya
Su Zane Wong - Vice President, Life Line Association Malaysia
Replay the session:
Session notes:
Suicide Prevention in the Americas
Renato Oliviera of the Pan American Health Association (PAHO) began by highlighting the alarming rise in suicide rates across the Americas. This increase is particularly concerning in regions such as the Caribbean. Notably, suicide rates among women have sharply risen, a concerning trend and vulnerable populations, including indigenous communities and LGBTQIA+ individuals, are disproportionately affected.
Oliviera stressed the need for member states to prioritise suicide prevention as a public health concern and mentioned PAHO’s high-level commission, where suicide prevention emerged as a key recommendation. He emphasised the importance of advancing the decriminalisation of suicide through collaboration with member states and evaluating access to means of suicide, while also engaging with the media as part of comprehensive suicide prevention efforts.
Bangladesh’s National Mental Health Strategic Plan 2020-2030
Mental health is also a key priority in Bangladesh, says Dr Shahidul Islam of the Bangladesh Ministry of Health, where 10,000 suicides occur every year, and is the leading cause of death amongst young women. Antiquated colonial-era laws still criminalise suicide, discouraging individuals from seeking help. However, despite existing barriers, Bangladesh has made strides in improving mental health policy.
“Bangladesh has approved the national health strategic plan 2020-2030 and mental health policy and act, and this happens with the prior guidance of Saima Wazed… Bangladesh is ready to address suicide as a serious public health concern,” says Dr Islam. Dr. Islam emphasised the importance of policymakers examining Bangladesh's socio-cultural and religious contexts before enacting national suicide prevention strategies to ensure the expected policy outcomes are achievable.
Partnerships for Life Initiative - Suicide Prevention Research and Action
Dr. Mark Sinyor of the International Association for Suicide Prevention’s (IASP) Partnerships for Life Initiative in the Americas, discussed the Partnerships for Life Initiative's role in supporting the development and implementation of national suicide prevention strategies in the Americas, even in countries where suicide remains a crime. With 75% of suicides occurring in low and middle-income countries, a new, inclusive partnership was needed to ensure that suicide prevention research was representative of the global situation, Dr. Sinyor explained. The initiative has successfully fostered global partnerships through its recruitment of 200 partners from almost all 35 countries, and workshops addressing suicide prevention strategies and existing gaps.
Currently, the Partnership is conducting a situational analysis of all countries of the Americas and will be producing a comprehensive document to understand national needs and priorities. He highlighted the recent success of Guyana's decriminalisation efforts and the initiative's role in connecting states, allowing this news to spread across the suicide research community immediately, which would not have been possible without the Partnership. Moving forward, the Partnership will be looking at opportunities to connect countries, share learnings and best practices and drive mentorship programmes as mental health champions, advocates, and policymakers look to propel suicide prevention strategies across the world.
Youth Advocacy for Suicide Prevention and Decriminalisation
Judah Njoroge of Basic Needs Kenya spoke about the importance of youth advocates in suicide prevention and decriminalisation efforts. Young people, often affected by suicide, can break through peer barriers and provide a personal perspective and not just a policy view. It is important in low and middle-income countries, where there are multifaceted challenges, to create channels for peer education. The WHO’s QualityRights initiative, which focuses on promoting mental health from a rights-based perspective, empowers young people to engage in conversations about mental health, stigma, suicide prevention and decriminalisation.
Njoroge emphasises the importance of sharing and amplifying the voices of lived experience, “listen to other people, listen to their experiences, listen to their challenges, listen to suicide survivors… am I able to change something in my life or my community to support somebody.” Youth advocates must feel empowered to share their voices, and experiences in political forums and participate in discussions to help drive meaningful change.
Crisis Lines and Suicide Decriminalisation
Su Zane Wong of LifeLine International Malaysia discussed the significance of crisis lines in suicide prevention. With Malaysia’s recent decriminalisation of suicide, there has been an increase in the number of crisis calls to their helplines, particularly in high-risk cases. Before decriminalisation, there would be significant anxiety among volunteers when reporting high-risk cases to the police. Though this has changed, some anxiety and uncertainty about the treatment of callers persists.
Crisis line workers are more confident dealing with crises as they can reassure callers that they will not be penalised yet, hospitals are not equipped to support vulnerable individuals in crisis situations. Governments and NGOs need to engage in dialogue to redesign existing mechanisms, says Wong. LifeLine International Malaysia is looking to develop a working paper to outline the challenges and needs of helpline providers and ensure they are appropriately addressed. The needs of family members must also be considered in this dialogue, to ensure all affected by suicide can receive the support they need.
