PAHO Director calls for immediate action and stronger partnerships to reduce suicide in the Americas

Speaking at a high-level event on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Dr. Barbosa underscored persistent challenges and presented a new regional initiative.

New York, 22 September 2025 (PAHO) - At a high-level side event held today on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), urged governments, civil society, and private sector partners to intensify efforts to prevent suicide and expand access to mental health care across the Americas.

Speaking at the event, "Partnering for Impact: Leveraging Cross-Sector Partnerships for Suicide Prevention in the Americas," co-hosted by the WHO Foundation and Boehringer Ingelheim, Dr. Barbosa described suicide as "a growing public health crisis that demands our immediate attention and action."

"More than 100,000 lives are lost to suicide in the Americas each year," he stated. "Between 2000 and 2021, the suicide rate in the Region increased by 17.4%, making the Americas the only geographic Region in the world to record an increase during that period."

The event brought together ministers, diplomats, global health experts, foundations, and civil society groups to explore the power of partnerships in confronting suicide-a complex and preventable issue that continues to claim lives and devastate families across the hemisphere.

Dr. Barbosa drew attention to recent findings from PAHO's new regional report on Suicide in the Americas, noting that three of the countries with the highest suicide rates globally are located in the Region. While nearly 80% of suicide deaths occur among men, women are almost five times more likely to attempt suicide.

"We must remember that each suicide affects countless individuals, families, and communities that are all profoundly impacted by these enduring losses. Preventing suicides is therefore vital to building healthy and resilient communities," he said.

A new regional initiative for suicide prevention

In response to the urgent need for action, Dr. Barbosa officially presented PAHO's new Regional Suicide Prevention Initiative, launched earlier this month with support from the WHO Foundation and Boehringer Ingelheim.

The initiative aims to reduce suicide mortality across the Region, with a particular focus on countries experiencing high or rising suicide rates. Built around the WHO's evidence-based LIVE LIFE implementation guide, the initiative will help governments implement coordinated and sustainable suicide prevention strategies.

"We have the tools and the expertise to reverse the rising suicide trends in the Americas," Dr. Barbosa emphasized. "But we must work together in partnership to successfully implement proven interventions. Now is the time to prioritize and invest in suicide prevention."

The initiative focuses on three key objectives:

1. Strengthening governance and coordination of suicide prevention efforts;
2. Expanding the capacity of health systems to address suicidal behavior; and
3. Improving multisectoral collaboration.

Five strategic areas will guide implementation: national suicide prevention strategies, surveillance and monitoring, access to mental health services and care, addressing social and environmental risk factors, and reducing stigma.

"Many of the interventions promoted by this initiative-such as tackling the social and economic determinants of suicide and raising public awareness-will require strong collaboration across sectors, including education, labor, housing, the media, and civil society," Dr. Barbosa added.

LINKS

Regional Suicide Prevention Initiativehttps://www.paho.org/en/documents/brochure-regional-suicide-prevention-initiative

Suicide in the Americas: Regional report 2021

LIVE LIFE an Implementation Guide for Suicide Prevention in Countries

https://www.paho.org/en/documents/live-life-implementation-guide-suicide-prevention-countries