A National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Policy have been prepared for Fiji.

Minister for Health Jone Usamate says the policy is based on the Ministry’s Corporate Plan as well as the WHO Mental Health Action Plan (2013-2020), which has been approved for Parliament’s endorsement.

The policy looks into helping reduce the number of suicide cases in Fiji.

Usamate says suicide is among the three leading causes of death in the 15-24 year old group in many countries in the world including Fiji.

He says about one third of all suicides in the world are committed by self-poisoning with pesticides.

The Health Minister says much of the thrust of the National Mental Health Policy is towards the prevention of suicide.