Authors' objectives: The objectives of this report were: (1) to identify what types of suicide prevention strategies have been evaluated in the research; (2) to determine which suicide prevention strategies are effective.

Authors' recommendations: Limited evidence indicates that no single strategy appeared to be effective in reducing suicide rate. Some prevention strategies (school-based or psychological/pharmacolgical treatment) directed to the at-risk groups appeared promising in reducing suicide behaviour, or suicide risk factors, and in enhancing protective factors. Future program planning and research challenges in the area of suicide prevention include standardizing definitions for suicide-related terminiology, standardizing assessment protocols for identifying at-risk populations, and using outcome measures whose validity and reliability have been tested and established. It may be necessary to develop a conceptual framework when planning and establishing provincial suicide prevention strategies. Given that suicide is an outcome of complex interactions of various risk factors and protective factors, it has been suggested that a broad array of suicide prevention strategies addressing different risk factors at different levels will be required to possibly achieve an overal reduction in the population suicide rate in the long term.

Authors' methods: Systematic review

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2003

URL for published report: http://www.ihe.ca/advanced-search/suicide-prevention-strategies-evidence-from-systematic-reviews

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Canada

Organisation Name: Institute of Health Economics

Contact Address: 1200, 10405 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T5J 3N4. Tel: +1 780 448 4881; Fax: +1 780 448 0018;

Contact Name: djuzwishin@ihe.ca

Contact Email: djuzwishin@ihe.ca

Copyright: <p>Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR)</p>