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The Department of Sociology, East West University, is pleased to share a recent publication by Dr. Anisur Rahman Khan, Professor, in collaboration with Dr. S. M. Yasir Arafat and Dr. Najuwa Arendse.

Their article, titled “Suicide Prevention and the Sustainable Development Goals: The Case of Bangladesh,” has been published in Public Health Challenges, an international open-access journal published by Wiley.

The article examines suicide prevention in Bangladesh within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG Indicator 3.4.2, which aims to reduce suicide mortality by one-third. The authors highlight significant challenges in accurately assessing and addressing the burden of suicide in Bangladesh, including underreporting, misclassification, limited surveillance systems, and gaps in policy implementation.

The authors also discuss recent national policy initiatives, including the National Mental Health Policy 2022 and the National Mental Health Strategic Plan 2020–2030, while emphasizing the need for stronger implementation and a dedicated national suicide prevention strategy. The article calls for a multisectoral public health approach, including decriminalization of suicide attempts, restriction of access to lethal means, responsible media engagement, and greater investment in community- and school-based suicide prevention interventions.

The publication contributes to the growing public health discourse on suicide prevention in Bangladesh and highlights the importance of coordinated national action to advance progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

Link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/puh2.70382