Global estimates of suicide exceed 700,000 deaths, of which nearly 80% occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Hospital-treated self-harm is highly associated with suicide, and for every person who dies by suicide there are many more attempts. Although the overall global suicide rate has declined modestly over the past decade, in some regions the suicide rate has stayed the same or increased over the same time. Consequently, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UN SDG) 3.4.2 indicator for 2030 to reduce suicide mortality by one-third by 2030 will find some countries on track to meet this goal but many more will not.

In line with the theme for World Suicide Prevention Day 2024, “Changing the Narrative,” this special issue will explore the policy, economic, surveillance, and intervention programs that have helped countries effectively address suicide and suicide attempts or, conversely, have been worsened outcomes. Research originating from LMICs—which receives only 2% of global suicide funding—is strongly desired.  We especially welcome papers with effective or promising innovative solutions that show promise for scaling throughout low- and middle-income countries, as well as the data and indicators that will be needed to effectively track changes in suicide-related behavior and upstream causes and protective factors beyond 2030.

Illustrative areas of focus:

• Applied research, policy implementation, and international development addressing the social, cultural, physical, environmental, and political determinants of suicide and related self-harm and their intersectionality.
• Identification, assessment, management, and follow up of people affected by suicidal behaviours including tracking methods (e.g., in national health registries) and the development of suicide care cascades
• Populations at elevated risk for suicide, especially children and adolescents including the role of the internet on suicide and best practices for identification and intervention.
• The development of suicide and self-harm screening tools and protocols, especially in the context of local language, context, and idioms of distress.
• Suicide research funding: focus areas, inequalities and opportunities.
• Human rights and related data on the lived experience of people with suicidal ideation and suicide-intended self-harm, including decriminalization of suicide and physician-assisted suicide for people with severe and persistent mental illness.
• Stigma related to suicidal ideation, self-harm and suicide
• Public health, structural (e.g., pesticide restrictions) and psychological (including low intensity and digital and/or artificial intelligence) interventions to help reduce suicidal ideation, self-harm and suicide including the synergistic effects of multiple interventions and methods to track their impact.
• The impact of suicide on family members’ mental health, risk for suicide and their potential role in suicide prevention interventions.
• Special contexts for suicide prevention such as borders, asylum centers, prison, the military and certain professions (e.g., construction, entertainment)
• The impact of media reporting on suicide and related responsible media reporting

Submission Date: 31st of March 2025

Lead Guest Editor:

Dr Jerome T. Galea, University of South Florida, USA