Banning pesticides saves lives from suicide

Pesticide self-poisoning has long been one of the most common methods of suicide—particularly in farming communities with limited access to mental health services. Research conducted in rural parts of South Asia has shown that banning highly hazardous pesticides can significantly reduce deaths by suicide.

Following pesticide bans in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, national suicide rates fell by 36–50% over a decade. “We found that national bans on highly hazardous pesticides significantly reduced the number of people dying by suicide—93,000 deaths prevented in Sri Lanka alone,” said Dee Knipe,who led the study. 

These changes, achieved without harming agricultural productivity, have informed World Health Organization (WHO) guidance and national suicide prevention strategies across multiple low- and middle-income countries.

This work offers a powerful population-level intervention in countries where stigma and service shortages can make it harder for people to receive timely mental health support.

Families in affected regions report a decline in impulsive suicide attempts involving pesticide ingestion. Reduced access to lethal means is giving people a second chance to seek help—even where mental health services remain scarce.

The research, supported by the Wellcome Trust* and Open‑Philanthropy (through a GiveWell‑recommended grant to the Centre for Pesticide Suicide Prevention – CPSP), was conducted in partnership with local institutions such as the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka. Findings have been shared through collaborations with WHO, the CPSP, and national health ministries—linking agriculture, mental health, and public policy.

This work shows how evidence-based policy change can save lives at scale—offering hope, dignity, and a path forward in suicide prevention worldwide.

*IAMHRF Member