The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Implement the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention [Internet]

Excerpt

In the past, suicide was often viewed as a mental health problem that affected a few individuals and could only be addressed by mental health specialists. Today we recognize that suicide is both a mental health and a public health concern. Like other public health problems, such as obesity and heart disease, suicide is affected by many influences—related to individual characteristics, interpersonal relationships, the community, and the larger society. Mental illness, substance misuse, social isolation, physical health problems, relationship issues, the loss of a loved one, a family history of suicide, access to lethal means, and legal or financial problems can all increase suicide risk or precipitate a suicidal crisis. Other factors—such as a sense of purpose, social connectedness and support, cultural identity, life skills, and access to effective health care—can play a protective role, moderating or “buffering” the impact of existing risk factors. The National Strategy emphasizes that suicide prevention efforts are more likely to succeed if they are comprehensive, combining multiple strategies that work together to prevent suicide—for example, teaching coping and problem-solving skills, promoting connectedness, identifying individuals at risk and connecting them to effective care, and providing support to those who have lost a loved one to suicide.