Empowering Families to Address Suicide in Rural Colombia

Abstract

Suicidal behavior is a major public health problem that has devastating effects on families. Relevant suicide risk factor identification is a critical component to developing effective suicide assessments and interventions. Suicide risk factors vary across countries. Thus, the intent of this seminal research was to investigate suicide risk factors relevant to a small and rural region in the South American country of Colombia. The factors identified in the present Delphi study appear relevant in informing the development and expansion of suicide prevention strategies and community-based programs. Educating family members and other frontline community helpers on the identified suicide risk factors can exponentially increase service resources in underserved and unserved communities.