Forging an agenda for suicide prevention in the United States

Am J Public Health. 2013 May;103(5):822-9. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.301078. Epub 2013 Mar 14.

Abstract

Suicide prevention must be transformed by integrating injury prevention and mental health perspectives to develop a mosaic of common risk public health interventions that address the diversity of populations and individuals whose mortality and morbidity contribute to the burdens of suicide and attempted suicide. Emphasizing distal preventive interventions, strategies must focus on people and places--and on related interpersonal factors and social contexts--to alter the life trajectories of people before they become suicidal. Attention also must be paid to those in the middle years--the age with the greatest overall burden. We need scientific and social processes that define priorities and assess their potential for reducing what has been a steadily increasing rate of suicide during the past decade.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Cause of Death / trends
  • Female
  • Forecasting / methods
  • Health Priorities / standards
  • Health Priorities / trends*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Preventive Health Services / methods*
  • Preventive Health Services / standards
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Distribution
  • Social Responsibility*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Suicide / psychology
  • Suicide / statistics & numerical data
  • Suicide Prevention*
  • Suicide, Attempted / prevention & control
  • Suicide, Attempted / psychology
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Violence / prevention & control*
  • Violence / psychology
  • Violence / statistics & numerical data
  • Young Adult