The WHO World Suicide Report ‘Preventing suicide: a global imperative” is the first global report of its kind. The report provides a systematic, evidence-based approach to policy and programme development which can be adapted to suit existing health and social structures and, where countries have already commenced this process, provide guidance on strengthening their approaches. The report aims to increase the awareness of the public health significance of suicide and suicide attempts and to make suicide prevention a higher priority on the global public health and public policy agendas. It aims to encourage and support countries to develop or strengthen comprehensive suicide prevention strategies in a multisectoral public health approach.

The target audience includes Ministries of Health, policy makers, planners, advocates, nongovernmental organizations, academics, researchers, health workers, the media, and the general public. Governments in particular are in a unique position to develop and strengthen surveillance, to provide and disseminate data that are necessary to inform action, and to bring together a multitude of stakeholders who may not otherwise collaborate.

The presentation focuses on the global and regional epidemiology of suicide and suicide attempts, which is the first theme of the report; other themes include risk and protective factors, and related interventions; current situation and working towards a comprehensive national response for suicide prevention; and the way forward.