Effectiveness of Government and School Policies in Preventing Adolescent Suicide in Different Countries

Adolescent suicide is a serious global health issue, with suicide being one of the leading causes of death among adolescents. While psychological, familial, and social factors contribute to suicidal ideation and behavior, governmental and school-level interventions are essential in its prevention. This review aims to conduct a comparative study of policies to prevent adolescent suicide across countries, with a particular focus on South Korea—a nation with the highest adolescent suicide rate among developed nations. While high- and low-suicide-rate groups were identified in developed and underdeveloped countries, commonalities and divergences in policy approaches were compared in those countries. The effectiveness of these policies was analyzed and compared based on statistics, academic evaluations, and longitudinal data. The impact of family, peer, school, and societal support on reducing adolescent suicide rates was also discussed. While top-down policies must be executed necessarily, they are not sufficient to prevent adolescent suicide. A holistic and cultural approach is essential for the sustainable implementation of policies and support. The result of this study provides policymakers and educators a basis and reference to formulate policies and provide support for adolescent suicide prevention.