Understanding Suicide and Suicide Prevention Strategies in a Global Context (FutureLearn)

Offered by University of Glasgow,
Understanding Suicide and Suicide Prevention Strategies in a Global Context (FutureLearn)

Develop an understanding of suicide in a global context. Learn about suicide risk factors and ways to help prevent it. Recognise suicide risk and optimise prevention worldwide. Suicide is preventable, yet it is estimated that a person dies by suicide every 40 seconds somewhere in the world. This equates to over 800,000 people dying by suicide worldwide each year.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see FutureLearn's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

On this course, you will gain a broader understanding of suicide as a worldwide issue. You will analyse global suicide rates and patterns and explore common risk factors. You will explore the social and cultural factors that can influence suicidal behaviour. You will also look at suicide prevention strategies and learn how these can be enforced in communities.

What topics will you cover?

  • Definitions of suicide and self-harm
  • Risk factors for suicide with consideration of mental illness and substance misuse
  • Global suicide rates: issues and variations with international data
  • Legality of suicide
  • Stigma experiences related to suicide
  • The impact of suicide
  • Media reporting of suicide
  • Health promotion and suicide prevention

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

  • Explain some of the risk factors for suicide in the global context
  • Reflect on the impact of suicide at a personal and societal level
  • Produce examples of different strategies used to try and reduce the risk of suicide
  • Explore the role of stigma in the context of suicide
Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Babies in Mind: Why the Parent's Mind Matters (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
The University of Warwick

Babies in Mind: Why the Parent's Mind Matters (FutureLearn)

Find out how parents and caregivers influence children’s minds, from conception through infancy, with this free online course. This course will explore how the mind of the parent influences the developing mind of the child, from conception through infancy and into later life. We will take you on a journey that begins in pregnancy, exploring the importance of the ability of the mother-to-be to think about her baby while still in utero, alongside the impact of emotions such as anxiety and depression.

Self Paced
4 Weeks
Why Do We Age? The Molecular Mechanisms of Ageing (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Groningen,University Medical Center Groningen - UMCG

Why Do We Age? The Molecular Mechanisms of Ageing (FutureLearn)

Why do we age? Is there a limit to human lifespan? Can we prolong our lives? Find out with this free online course. Discover the science behind the ageing process. The “why” and “how” of ageing has puzzled mankind ever since it questioned its place in the universe.

Self Paced
5-12 Weeks
Suicide Prevention (Coursera) Coursera
Wesleyan University

Suicide Prevention (Coursera)

This course will explore the science of suicide research, prevention, and intervention. The field of suicide research is young and knowledge is rapidly changing. Topics will include terminology, epidemiology, historical and contemporary theories of suicide, modern approaches to suicide research, empirically supported approaches to prevention and intervention, the lived experiences of those with suicidal thoughts and attempts.

Aug 10th 2026
4 Weeks
Responsible Reporting on Suicide for Journalists (Coursera) Coursera
Johns Hopkins University

Responsible Reporting on Suicide for Journalists (Coursera)

Responsible Reporting on Suicide for Journalists is designed to give working journalists and students who are interested in the field an understanding of how news media can impact suicide trends and how that power can be used to improve public health. An extensive body of research shows that certain methods of reporting on suicide deaths can increase the number of subsequent suicides among the public. Conversely, responsible methods of reporting on suicide can increase the likelihood of people seeking help.

Aug 3rd 2026
1 Week
Focus on Suicidal Behaviours (EPA) Other Providers
European Psychiatric Association

Focus on Suicidal Behaviours (EPA)

The last decades have seen the greatest advances in our knowledge about the causes of suicidal behaviours and in our skills to take care of those at risk and prevent future suicidal events. In this online course, we will give you an overview of these advances through the lenses of some of the world‘s leading experts in the field of suicidology.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
'Talk to me': Improving mental health and suicide prevention in young adults (edX) EdX
Curtin University,CurtinX

'Talk to me': Improving mental health and suicide prevention in young adults (edX)

As a student, parent, teacher, coach, or health professional, learn strategies to help improve the mental health of young people in your life, recognise concerning behaviours, and feel better prepared to have conversations about mental health. Poor mental health affects one in four people, and young adults are particularly susceptible. Do you feel confident approaching the topic of mental health with people you care about, or are concerned about?

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Injury Prevention for Children & Teens (edX) EdX
University of Michigan,MichiganX

Injury Prevention for Children & Teens (edX)

Injuries are the #1 cause of death among children and teens. This course lays a foundation for the prevention of child and teen injuries. Injuries, such as motor vehicle crash, youth violence, and suicide, are the leading cause of child and adolescent death. However, almost all of these injuries can be prevented through the widespread application of evidence-based practices and policies.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Les conduites suicidaires : identifier et prévenir (FUN) FUN
Université de Montpellier

Les conduites suicidaires : identifier et prévenir (FUN)

Faire face à un suicide abouti ou une personne suicidaire nous questionne sur notre propre expérience. Ces personnes sont des personnes comme les autres, comme nous tous, pour lesquelles la vie est devenue source de souffrance. Les comprendre, c'est nous comprendre, découvrir les faiblesses de notre personnalité, les manques de notre environnement, de notre société. Avec ce MOOC, nous proposons une formation accessible à toutes les personnes s’intéressant à la problématique suicidaire, pour des raisons personnelles, professionnelles, scientifiques voire philosophiques.

No sessions available
5-12 Weeks
Clinical Supervision with Confidence (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of East Anglia

Clinical Supervision with Confidence (FutureLearn)

Supervise undergraduate and postgraduate learners effectively with this online course for clinical and educational supervisors. This online course will help you become a more effective clinical supervisor or educator. It is mapped to competences within the Academy of Medical Educators’ framework for professional development, as used by the General Medical Council and Health Education England.

Self Paced
2 Weeks
Understanding Anxiety, Depression and CBT (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Reading

Understanding Anxiety, Depression and CBT (FutureLearn)

Improve your understanding of depression and anxiety and find out more about an effective and evidence-based treatment: CBT. Anxiety and depression are terms discussed widely, in different media and amongst family and friends. But what do those labels actually mean? On this five week course, from the University of Reading, you will explore what it means to have anxiety or depression and how they are identified.

Self Paced
5-12 Weeks
Heart Health: A Beginner's Guide to Cardiovascular Disease (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Reading

Heart Health: A Beginner's Guide to Cardiovascular Disease (FutureLearn)

Learn more about how your heart works, the causes of heart disease and how to keep your heart healthy with this free online course. Learn how to keep your heart healthy. Your heart beats around 100,000 times a day, pumping blood around your body to deliver oxygen and nutrients, while taking away waste products. When your heart is unhealthy, it can’t perform this vital task so effectively.

Self Paced
4 Weeks
Liver Transplant: the Ins and Outs (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Birmingham

Liver Transplant: the Ins and Outs (FutureLearn)

Learn about the science behind having a liver transplant with this free online course from the Centre for Liver Research. In this free, three-week course, we will teach you about the fascinating field of liver transplantation. We will cover the history of liver transplantation - from early experiments in the late 1960s to exciting new technological advances in organ preservation happening today.

Self Paced
3 Weeks