Review article

Suicidality: Contemporary Approaches to Prevention and Therapy

Petrana Brečić
Marko Ćurković
Domagoj Vidović
Senka Repovečki

Abstract

Suicidality is one of the most complex clinical and public health problems in contemporary medicine. Although it is often associated with mental disorders, current evidence shows that it cannot be reduced either to a diagnosis or to any single cause. It arises at the intersection of biological vulnerability, psychopathology, mental pain, life history, acute crisis, social relationships, and a sense of meaning. Within this framework, recent years have seen the consolidation of a public health approach captured by the phrase “suicide prevention in all policies,” which locates responsibility for prevention beyond the boundaries of the healthcare system as well. In clinical practice, risk assessment must be individualized, repeated, and grounded in the therapeutic relationship; no scale can replace direct questions about suicidal thoughts and plans, assessment of previous attempts, access to means, dynamics of the crisis, and protective factors. Treatment must necessarily be multimodal and include psychotherapeutic, pharmacological, and sociotherapeutic interventions, with emphasis on the integrity and comprehensiveness of care. At the population level, the greatest preventive effect still comes from restricting access to means of suicide, responsible media reporting, early recognition, active follow-up of at-risk individuals, and action on the social determinants of suicidality. Croatian data show a long-term decline in rates, but also a continuing need for systematic, intersectoral, and meaningfully targeted prevention.

Keywords

suicidality, suicide prevention, suicide risk assessment, public health, multimodal approach

Hrčak ID:

349497

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/349497

Publication date:

10.7.2026.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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