Strengthening mental health systems for suicide prevention: The role of mhGAP in WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health (SIMH) countries

Abstract

Despite suicide being a leading cause of death worldwide, many countries continue to face challenges providing quality care for people at risk.This paper presents learnings from six countries implementing the World Health Organization's (WHO) Special Initiative for Mental Health (SIMH) and its use of the Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP).By documenting how mhGAP has influenced suicide prevention efforts, this work offers insights that may guide governments, partners, and implementers seeking to integrate suicide prevention into broader mental health systems.Findings highlight that mhGAP training has consistently built capacity to identify, manage, and follow up with individuals at risk of suicide.It shows how mhGAP training can improve facility work towards strengthened suicide prevention, increase suicide prevention as a health priority, and foster collaboration.The results point to both progress and gaps: while mhGAP strengthens clinical response and service delivery at individual, facility and community levels, system-level actions such as sustainable financing, structured supervision, and national surveillance requires further investment and policy engagement.