Countries of the Americas and partners join forces to accelerate suicide prevention at a meeting hosted by PAHO in Brazil

Brasília, September 10, 2026 - The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is convening delegations from Brazil, Guyana, Mexico, Suriname, and Uruguay in Brasília on September 9 and 10 to evaluate the first year of the Regional Suicide Prevention Initiative and strengthen cooperation among countries in the Americas. The aim is to translate scientific evidence into concrete actions by bolstering multisectoral, people-centered approaches, while also creating a space to share experiences, challenges, and lessons learned.

The meeting brings together representatives from Ministries of Health and other government institutions, experts, civil society, and individuals with lived experience, broadening the diversity of perspectives in the dialogue.

At the opening, Cristian Morales, the PAHO and World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Brazil, highlighted that the issue affects different population groups and territories unequally. According to him, prevention requires a focus on equity, the strengthening of care networks, and the integration of mental health into primary care-"especially given the heightened vulnerability observed among the elderly, Indigenous peoples, and rural populations, among other groups," he noted.

According to Marcelo Kimati, Director of the Department of Mental Health, Alcohol, and Other Drugs at Brazil's Ministry of Health, the approach to suicide must be comprehensive, extending beyond the health sector. "We need to consider a full range of public policies aimed at reducing the inequalities and vulnerabilities that lie at the root of this problem," he stated.

Renato Souza, Head of the Mental Health and Substance Use Unit at PAHO headquarters, noted that more than 100,000 people die by suicide each year in the Americas. "Behind every statistic, there is a person, a family, a community," he said. "We launched the Initiative with a simple yet ambitious goal: to accelerate the implementation of interventions known to reduce suicide rates across countries," he highlighted.

Support from the WHO Foundation-through donations to countries in the Americas made by international institutions such as Boehringer Ingelheim-has contributed to the development of initiatives in this area.

Launched by PAHO in September 2025, the Regional Suicide Prevention Initiative supports countries in strengthening public policies, governance, surveillance, and access to mental health services, as well as in raising awareness to reduce the stigma associated with the issue.

During the regional event, topics addressed include the social determinants of suicide; suicide surveillance and the use of data for action; the fostering of socio-emotional skills and psychosocial support; national suicide prevention plans and multisectoral coordination; responsible reporting, stigma reduction, and public awareness; and the role of civil society in suicide prevention and postvention. Panels are led by delegations from Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Chile, Suriname, and Guyana; the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz); the National Suicide Research Foundation at University College Cork (a WHO Collaborating Center for Surveillance and Research on Suicide Prevention); the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP); and other strategic partners.

Expected outcomes include consolidating lessons learned, formulating regional recommendations aligned with the pillars of the LIVE LIFE guide, and identifying best practices that can be replicated in other countries, thereby strengthening the commitment of the Americas to evidence-based suicide prevention and integrated action across various sectors.

Mental Health

Suicide Prevention

Brasil

Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health (NMH)