Research priorities for suicide prevention in Southeast Asia

Suicide remains a leading cause of preventable mortality in Southeast Asia (SEA), a region that bears a disproportionate share of the global suicide burden yet remains underrepresented in research, funding, and policy attention. In this article, we articulate ten priority research areas for suicide prevention across SEA, informed by surveys, workshops, and roundtable discussions convened around a regional forum, to guide key stakeholders including shaping funding calls, journal editorial focus, and interagency action. These priorities include strengthening suicide surveillance and data integration; embedding social determinants such as poverty, debt, gender inequity, and interpersonal violence into prevention frameworks; advancing family- and community-based approaches; integrating cultural, spiritual, and historical contexts; addressing alcohol and substance use; responding to youth suicide and online environments; addressing mental health needs; strengthening implementation science to adapt and evaluate interventions with fidelity; and improving translation of evidence into policy. Advancing this coordinated priority research agenda is essential to progress toward regional global reduction targets, by ensuring the research and funding ecosystem focuses the unique context of the SEA region.