WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTE
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC BUREAU REGIONAL DU PACIFIQUE OCCIDENTAL
REGIONAL COMMITTEE Forty-eighth session Sydney 22-26 September 1997
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26 September 1997
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
Provisional agenda item 21
STATEMENT BY PROFESSOR ROBERT D. GOLDNEY, PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION Suicide is a significant health problem both in the developed and developing regions of the Western Pacific. For example, suicide in young males is the highest in the world in Australia and New Zealand and there are also other specific concerns about suicide with organo phosphate poisons in countries such as Samoa and Malaysia. It is also now appreciated that there is a significant rate of suicide in China and it is of particular interest that the rate for women is greater than that for men, a finding which stands alone in the epidemiology of suicide around the world. In March 1997 the 19th Bi-annual Conference of the International Association for Suicide Prevention met in Adelaide in South Australia and that was the first time in the 37 year history of the organization that it had met in the AsialPacific region. That was a recognition of the importance of suicide as a public health issue in this region and many researchers, clinicians and volunteers represented local countries at the conference. As a result of the deliberations of the conference the Adelaide Declaration on suicide prevention was formulated and it has since been ratified by the Executive Board of the International Association for Suicide Prevention. This applies to all countries and I would urge that member countries of the Western Pacific region adopt the principles in the appended Declaration.
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THE ADELAIDE DECLARATION ON SUICIDE PREVENTION
Suicide is a significant health problem in every country in the world, being among the ten leading causes of death. The World Health Organization has six basic steps for the prevention of suicide. These are: (1) the treatment of mental disorders; (2) guns possession control; (3) detoxification of domestic gas; (4) detoxification of car emissions; (5) control of toxic substance availability; and (6) toning down reports in the media. These measures should result in a significant reduction in suicide in the world. The International Association for Suicide Prevention calls on government health organizations, non-government health and welfare groups and volunteer organizations, to share with the general public the responsibility for the prevention of suicide and to work towards: the allocation of sufficient funds and human resources for research and suicide prevention strategies. the establishment of appropriate government agencies to provide leadership, co-ordination and resources to prevent suicide. the establishment of national and local networks of support and partnership for suicide prevention. the provision of resources to groups who may have special needs. The International Association for Suicide Prevention accepts its responsibility to: place suicide prevention near the top of the agenda of the World Health Organization. institute networks across the world to bring together professionals and non-professionals in the pursuit of suicide prevention. urge all countries to secure a budget allocation for suicide prevention. ensure that international, national and regional groups are co-ordinated and have access to the latest information about suicide prevention.
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- . encourage and promote research into the efficacy, effectiveness and feasibility of suicide prevention programs. ensure the availability of reliable information about suicide prevention. - ensure that adequate care is available to those affected by suicide. Ratified by the Executive Board of the International Association for Suicide Prevention following the 19th congress of the International Association for Suicide Prevention held in Adelaide, Australia, from 23-27 March 1997.