Author: World Health Organization

Publisher: World Health Organization

Published: 2023-09-12

Total Pages: 16

ISBN-13: 9240078797

Reducing the global suicide mortality rate by a third by 2030 is a target of both the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the WHO Global Mental Health Action Plan. However, an impediment to meeting this goal is the fact that suicide and suicide attempts remain illegal in at least 23 countries worldwide. A fundamental consequence of the criminalization of suicide and suicide attempts is that it deters people from seeking timely help and accessing interventions due to fear of legal repercussions and stigma. Conversely, when suicide and suicide attempts are not criminalized, better information about why they happen, how they can be prevented, and who is most at risk can be gathered. This allows governments to develop suicide prevention strategies to support people who may be experiencing struggles in their life. Decriminalization of suicide and suicide attempts represents one critical step governments can take in their efforts to prevent suicide. The WHO Policy Brief on the health aspects of decriminalization of suicide and suicide attempts cites data and research to make a case for decriminalizing suicide globally. It also includes case examples from countries that have recently decriminalized suicide and suicide attempts — Guyana, Pakistan and Singapore — providing important insights to policy-makers, legislators, parliamentarians and other decision-makers.