Innovative prospects for suicide prevention and action opportunities for the public health agency of Canada and the government of Canada

Abstract

Responsibility for suicide prevention falls to the Government of Canada and Health Canada. The issue of suicide affects Canadians of all ages and in all regions of the country, hence the need for a pan- Canadian strategy aimed at reducing suicide deaths and reaching all Canadians. The availability and accessibility of mental health services constitute important resources for suicide prevention and a target for interventions that can be made to rapidly reduce the suicide rate. Such a strategy to improve services should include quality surveillance and quality control programs, such as suicide audits and the use of linked government administrative databases. Population-based strategies to prevent and treat depression must also be established and should be based on the Nuremberg model. In particular, development of equitable access to psychotherapy and mental health literacy programs should be priority goals.