Suicide prevention is a global issue.

The World Health Organisation has outlined 6 basic steps for the prevention of suicide, 4 of which centre on reducing the availability of methods.

1. More effective treatment of mental disorders
2. Gun possession control
3. Detoxification of domestic gas
4. Detoxification of car emissions
5. Control of toxic substance availability
6. Toning down suicide reports in the media.

If deprived of one method of suicide, won’t a suicidal person simply seek out a different one?

Preventative efforts will not go far without support from the public and without adequate funding from governments. Major success at suicide prevention is an unrealistic goal if the treatment of mental illness remains poor and/or unaffordable, if hospital stays for the ill are limited to days rather than weeks, if carers are expected to look after patients at home without any guidance and if society continues to be unaware of the suffering of so many people in its midst.

“Suicide is the number one killer among young black people,” said John Wilson, D.C. Council Chairman, “but we call it gunfire.” shortly before he killed himself. “We don’t even like to talk about it. We’ve got to change the way [America] feels about depression. We can’t put it all in God’s hands. God’s busy.”