Future Directions in Suicide Research and Prevention

Abstract

Knowledge about suicide and suicide-related phenomena ( death wishes and suicide ideation, self-injury, repeated self-injury, suicide attempts, multiple attempts, suicide, assisted suicide, and suicide bereavement) has grown enormously since the 1990s. Attention toward the generalised increase in suicidal behaviours recorded in many countries in the second part of the previous century, which peaked in the 1990s, has no doubt stimulated research, which in tum has promoted national strategies and dedicated policies, and the development of different types of practices. Before analysing hypothetical future developments, and what, in particular, should be promoted, it is worth examining a few landmark achievements in knowledge about suicide derived :from recent experiences. Although overlapping areas are inevitable, it is useful to consider the most important research achievements separately, and their consequences in terms of policy implementation and change in practice.