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Prevention of mental ill-health and suicide: Public health perspectives

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

C.W. Hoven ,
D.J. Mandell  and
J.M. Bertolote
C.W. Hoven*
Affiliation:
Child Psychiatric Epidemiology Group, Columbia University, NYS Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit, 43, New York10032, USA
D.J. Mandell
Affiliation:
Social Ecologist, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Columbia University-NYS Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit, 43, New York10032, USA
J.M. Bertolote
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Psychology and Psychiatry, Botucatu Medical School, UNESP, R. Vitoria Regia, 180, CEP 18697-142, Botucatu, SP, Brazil
*
*Corresponding author. Tel.: +12 543 5689; fax: +212 781 6050. E-mail address: [email protected] (C.W. Hoven).
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Abstract

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates for the year 2020, approximately 1.5 million people will commit suicide, and at least 10 times that many will make an attempt. This paper offers a brief overview of the current state of the epidemiology of suicide, a burgeoning public health problem. The information provided is based in large measure on reports of suicide mortality from 130/193 countries. In order to contextualize these data, this paper explores the contribution of both individual and sociocultural factors that influence suicidal behavior, from which much has been learned. Outlining the history of attempts by international and national organizations like WHO, United Nations, member states in the European community and other countries to regularize identification and suicide reporting procedures, this paper also demonstrates that serious knowledge gaps remain. Minimal requirements for successful evidence-based interventions are presented.

Keywords

SuicideSuicide preventionPublic healthSocial milieuEtiology of suicide
Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 25 , Issue 5: The role of genetics in promoting suicide prevention and the mental health of the population - Nobel Conference: The role of genetics in promoting suicide prevention and the mental health of the population , June 2010 , pp. 252 - 256
Copyright
Copyright © Elsevier Masson SAS 2010

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Footnotes

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