Brasília, 3 June 2026 – Strong and growing scientific evidence shows that the media can play a significant role in either strengthening or undermining suicide prevention efforts. In this context, responsible communication is essential to addressing this complex but preventable public health issue and protecting thousands of lives.
To support suicide prevention efforts, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), in partnership with Brazil’s Ministry of Health, held a technical workshop in Brasília on 1–2 June with approximately 40 participants from diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise. The objective was to discuss the best ways to communicate about this public health issue, which has wide-ranging social, emotional, and economic consequences and affects people across all cultures and communities.
The workshop, entitled“Responsible Communication: Making a Difference in Suicide Prevention,” provided a space for learning, exchange, and dialogue among communication professionals, health workers, community leaders, representatives of civil society organizations, and content creators working in different contexts. The event recognized the essential role of the media, social networks, and community leadership in reducing stigma and promoting help-seeking behaviors.
It is estimated that more than 700,000 people die by suicide each year worldwide, including more than 100,000 in the Americas—the only region in the world where the suicide rate has increased (17%) since 2000. In response to these concerning trends, PAHO launched an initiative last year aimed at reversing this increase by providing countries with practical, evidence-based interventions in three priority areas. One of these areas focuses on collaboration with media professionals to raise awareness and reduce stigma related to suicide, through a project currently being implemented in Brazil, Guyana, and Mexico.
In Brazil, the workshop organized by PAHO and the Ministry of Health covered topics such as scientific evidence on the role of the media in suicide prevention, recommendations on what to do—and what not to do—when communicating about suicide responsibly, self-care, safety, diversity, and the collective development of guidance adapted to the country’s diverse realities.
Recognizing that each suicide death directly affects many other people, the workshop also addressed the importance of providing care, respect, and support to bereaved survivors—family members, friends, colleagues, and others who experience the emotional, psychological, and social impact of losing a loved one.
