IASP calls for global decriminalization of suicide

By Annan Boodram – The Caribbean Voice

NEW YORK, NY. July 28, 2020 --- The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) earlier this year, made a call for the global decriminalization of suicide. The IASP, “recommends the decriminalization of attempted suicide on the grounds that this will:

• reduce social stigma,
• help remove barriers to obtaining adequate mental health care,
• increase access to emergency medical services, foster suicide prevention activities,
•  improve the well-being of people who are vulnerable to engaging in suicidal behaviors,
•  contribute to more accurate monitoring of suicidal behaviors.

 On the other hand, “The criminalization of attempted suicide undermines national and international suicide prevention efforts and impedes access among vulnerable individuals and groups to suicide prevention and mental health services”. Also, “the criminalization of attempted suicide impedes the prevention of suicidal behavior”. Thus, the IASP “encourages countries where suicide attempts are currently illegal or punishable to develop and implement legislation that decriminalizes suicide attempts”.

 As well, the IASP recommends “firm advocacy on the part of professionals, volunteers, and also by those who are afflicted with suicidal impulses” to promote implementation of effective approaches to suicide prevention. “This may involve advocacy at the legislative level, for example in decriminalizing suicidal behavior in those countries where this has not yet been achieved.”

The IASP’s Policy Position Statement asserts that while suicide has been decriminalized in many countries, attempting suicide still represents a punishable offense in 45 countries, where legal penalties range from a small fine or a short period of imprisonment to life imprisonment, resulting in significant added distress and upheaval for vulnerable individuals who have engaged in a suicide attempt and often have serious mental health problems, which need treatment.

Furthermore, “the deleterious effects of the criminalization of suicide attempts go beyond the persecution of the individual, by undermining the provision of appropriate care following an attempt, and exacerbating the social stigma associated with suicidal behavior, which impedes help seeking”.

It also, “hinders the surveillance of suicidal behaviors, resulting in an underestimation of their true prevalence and thus creates obstacles to the planning and implementation of appropriate suicide prevention interventions”.

On the other hand, decriminalization recognizes that people who attempt suicide often have a reduced capacity to make an informed decision as a result of mental illness, substance abuse and/or an extreme crisis situation; suicidal behavior is unlikely to be deterred by the criminal status of suicide attempts and the threat of legal sanction.