Controlling the environment to prevent suicide: international perspectives.
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).


METHODS
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.
Leenaars
A
A
University of Leiden, The Netherlands. draalee@wincom.net
Cantor
C
C
Connolly
J
J
EchoHawk
M
M
Gailiene
D
D
He
Z X
ZX
Kokorina
N
N
Lester
D
D
Lopatin
A A
AA
Rodriguez
M
M
Schlebusch
L
L
Takahashi
Y
Y
Vijayakumar
L
L
Wenckstern
S
S
D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D013405:Suicide / Q000208:ethnology; D000092864:Suicide Prevention