Introduction to the PLOS ONE collection on 'Understanding and preventing suicide: Towards novel and inclusive approaches'

PLoS One. 2022 Mar 10;17(3):e0264984. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264984. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

More than 700,000 people lose their lives to suicide each year and evidence suggests that the current COVID-19 pandemic is leading to increases in risk factors for suicide and suicide-related behaviour, in particular among young people. It is widely documented that some sectors of the population are over-represented in the suicide statistics. It is also well established that the pathways that lead someone to a suicidal crisis are complex and differ across regions and sectors of the population; as such a multi-faceted approach to prevention is required. Many of us would also argue that novel approaches, that combine broad population-based strategies with individual interventions, and approaches that capitalise on new technologies and methodologies are also required. For these reasons, when bringing together this collection, we deliberately sought studies that focused upon those groups who are over-represented in the suicide statistics yet under-represented in research. We also called for studies that reported on novel approaches to suicide prevention and for studies that reflected the voices of people with lived experience of suicide, also often unheard in research efforts.

Publication types

  • Introductory Journal Article
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Risk Factors
  • Suicidal Ideation
  • Suicide / psychology*
  • Suicide / trends*
  • Suicide Prevention*

Grants and funding

JR is funded by a National Health and Medical Research Council Career Development Fellowship (ID1142348). MS is supported by the Estonian Research Council (Grant PRG71). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.