APA: Suicide prevention should be a public health priority

(HealthDay)—Suicide prevention needs to be a public health priority, according to the American Psychological Association (APA).

The APA calls for a multifaceted approach that includes increasing access to mental health screenings and ensuring that insurance covers both prevention services and treatment.

Additionally, the APA is highlighting the need for more funding for evidence-based treatment and its dissemination, including crisis services, as well as more research focused on risk assessment, evidence-based prevention programs, and treatment to reduce the incidence of suicide.

"The science and practice of psychology play an essential role in both understanding and addressing the biopsychosocial underpinnings of this issue," APA president, Jessica Henderson Daniel, Ph.D., said in a statement. "This crisis affects people both with and without diagnosed mental health conditions. Suicide is often an act of desperation, brought on by an inability to cope with life's stressors. Addressing the source of those stressors is vital."