Lowering suicide rates

Suicide is a serious public health problem that can have long-lasting effects on individuals, families, and communities. The good news is that suicide is preventable. Preventing suicide requires strategies at all levels of society. Prevention strategies found to be effective in suicide prevention include means restriction, responsible media coverage, and general public education, as well as identification methods such as screening, gatekeeper training, and primary care physician education. All settings should incorporate postvention as a component of a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention. All communities and organizations should be prepared to respond to a suicide death, including tribes, towns, senior living facilities, workplaces, and health care providers.