Suicide is complicated and tragic, but it is often preventable. Suicide prevention is a collection of efforts to reduce the risk of suicide. Many suicide prevention strategies have been developed. Effective suicide prevention aproach is comprehensive. Preventing suicide requires strategies at all levels including individuals, families, and communities. Comprehensive public health action to prevent suicide addresses the population at large as well as particularly vulnerable groups, such as young people or those who attempted suicide. Suicide prevention efforts are aimed at reducing factors that increase the risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors; and increasing the protective factors.

This section presents some of the success stories of the policies, plans, programs and other initiatives targeted at suicide prevention from the World Health Organization South East Asia region.