Suicide Prevention

Abstract

Suicide is an urgent public health concern, and its prevention and reduction have been declared matters of national priority in several countries. Suicide is devastating both for its loss of life and for its wider impacts on families and communities. This chapter provides an overview of the implications for the social work role within this global crisis. Due to their day-to-day proximity to people at increased risk of suicide and those impacted by suicide, social workers are identified as being uniquely placed to play a pivotal role in the prevention and reduction of suicide and suicidality, as well as being well-positioned to make a significant contribution to improved understanding of supp..