The desire of BTF is to support the development, implementation and evaluation of national suicide prevention strategies, particularly in developing and under- developed countries.
Around 40, mostly financially solvent countries have developed national suicide prevention strategies which provide a structural framework to support the delivery of a comprehensive and integrated national response to suicidal behavior (suicide and non-fatal self-harm).
The adoption of a national suicide prevention strategy :
- symbolizes government’s clear recognition of suicidal behavior as a priority public health issue and commitment to its prevention and reduction,
- symbolizes government’s clear recognition of suicidal behavior as a priority public health issue and commitment to its prevention and reduction,
- detects crucial gaps in legislation, service provision and data collection
- symbolizes the scale of necessary human and materialistic resources.
- shapes advocacy, alertness raising and media communications
- proposes a robust supervision and evaluation framework
provides a context for a research agenda on suicidal behavior and its prevention/reduction.
The World Health Organization (WHO) inspires all its members to take effective action to protect suicidal behavior, but recognizes that there is no one way forward: “The steps a country should take next will depend on where the country is on the way towards suicide prevention” (WHO, 2014: 66). Countries that have relatively comprehensive national response are advised to focus on evaluation and improvement, updating knowledge with new data, and emphasizing effectiveness and efficiency. Countries with existing suicide prevention activities should identify what is already in place and where there are gaps that need to be filled. Countries yet to undertake suicide prevention activities should concentrate on identifying and engaging stakeholders, developing activities where there is greatest need or where resources already exist, and improving surveillance.
IASP and WHO recognize the need to provide expert support to countries, especially developing and under developed countries, where suicide prevention action has not yet been introduced or where activities are being under- taken in a non-strategic and scattered manner.
BTF is ready to follow the activities performed by the authentic international suicide prevent organizations.
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