Citation

Leenaars AA, Cantor C, Connolly J, EchoHawk M, Gailiene D, He ZX, Kokorina N, Lester D, Lopatin AA, Rodriguez M, Schlebusch L, Takahashi Y, Vijayakumar L, Wenckstern S. Can. J. Psychiatry 2000; 45(7): 639-644.

Affiliation

University of Leiden, The Netherlands. draalee@wincom.net

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Canadian Psychiatric Association, Publisher SAGE Publications)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11056826

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Suicide and suicidal behaviour are multifaceted events requiring complex solutions. Controlling the environment is a neglected solution, despite strong support for this approach from the World Health Organization (WHO). METHOD: To discuss this approach from a global view, this review is written by authors from various cultures: American, Australian, Canadian, Chinese, Cuban, Dutch, Indian, Irish, Japanese, Lithuanian, Native North American, Russian, and South African. RESULTS: We examine gun control to illustrate the environmental control approach; however, the worldwide diversity of suicide methods calls for diverse responses. Further, controlling the environment encompasses more than restricting the means of suicide, which we illustrate with examples of toned-down media reports and restricted medicine availability. CONCLUSIONS: Controlling the environment may be a viable strategy for preventing suicide, although research shows that few clinicians implement such approaches.