Suicide prevention in Bangladesh: The current state and the way forward

Despite the World Health Organization's (WHO) call to adopt a national action plan on suicide, Bangladesh is yet to respond proactively to prevent this serious public health problem. The existing government and non-government prevention interventions are very limited, segmented and almost invisible. Suicide (including attempted suicide) is currently a criminal offense under the Bangladeshi legal framework. The aim of this paper is to propose a framing toward a national suicide prevention action plan in Bangladesh based on a situational analysis of local existing suicide prevention interventions. International policy documents, empirical and review works, and legal documents that speak to suicide interventions were reviewed. Critical analysis of these interventions suggests that Bangladesh should prioritize the adoption of a multi-sectoral suicide prevention action plan. The issue of decriminalization suicide should be carefully considered and policies harmonized before adopting the plan. Obtaining commitment from the policymakers to launch such intervention may be challenging. Considering the seriousness of the problem, Bangladeshi policymakers should be proactive in adopting a suicide prevention action plan. Neighboring countries provide useful lessons of the implementation measures that may assist with developing a suicide prevention action plan.

Automated summary

Despite the WHO's call for a national action plan on suicide in Bangladesh, the country has not yet taken proactive steps to address this public health issue. Current prevention interventions are limited, segmented, and barely visible, and suicide remains a criminal offense under Bangladeshi law. This paper proposes a framework for a national suicide prevention action plan in Bangladesh based on a review of existing interventions and suggests the need for a multi-sectoral approach and careful consideration of decriminalization policies. Policymaker commitment may be challenging, but considering the seriousness of the issue, Bangladesh should take proactive steps towards adopting a comprehensive suicide prevention plan, drawing lessons from neighboring countries.