Epidemiological Trend, Risk Factors, Prevention and Treatment Strategies of Self-directed Violent Behavior: A Critical Appraisal of Relevant Literature

Background: Suicide is an intentional fatal act of self-destruction and largely preventable phenomenon. Early Identification of suicide risk factors, proactive preventive steps and therapeutic interventions tend to reduce robustly its epidemiological trends including associated high mortality around the world.

Objective: This review study aimed to critically describe the identified potential risk factors underlying suicide together with a specific focus on its relevant preventive and management strategies.

Methods: A selective e-searches of Google Scholar, PubMed/MEDLINE and Science Direct of relevant English literature (2000-2019) was conducted by using keywords and Boolean operators, and following exclusion and inclusion criteria included 115 most influential articles for this critical review.

Results: Suicide is a global preventable phenomenon determined by multiple interconnected risk factors and mechanisms embedded in several levels; population (indigenous people and social media), individual (distal predisposing factors), developmental (mediating factors) and proximal (precipitating factors). Evidently suicide needs multimodal intervention approach in terms of universal, selective and indicated prevention.

Conclusion: Suicide is a global heterogeneous phenomenon and needs continuing concerted efforts of multidisciplinary health team and multi-sector stakeholders because its risk pathways and protective factors dynamically changes overtime across the world.