Addressing suicide: The final nail in the mental illness coffin?

In spite of evidence to the contrary, constant repetition of the claim that mental illness is the cause of all suicide has even the "experts" believing this message. The aim of this study, using a case study methodology, was to highlight that this faulty belief has prevented the development of holistic and effective suicide prevention policies. As a result, people unnecessarily die by suicide who otherwise may have survived. Policy makers are decades behind with the developments in suicide research. They still believe and follow medical literature that insists suicide is only caused by a mental illness developed through intervening variables, e.g., bereavement, marriage breakup, employment, types of occupation. Decades of government services basing all suicide prevention policies on this unitary cause have failed to reduce the suicide rate. In New Zealand, suicide numbers have reached new records five years in a row since 2015. We need to admit and acknowledge that we do not understand suicide per se, but that we have some understanding of human behaviour and decision-making processes. A New Zealand experience provides prima facie evidence that the public can be protected against suicide through changes in attitudes and adopting a more holistic approach to address suicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]