This book provides a comprehensive and region‑wide examination of suicide prevention in South East Asia, addressing a major yet under‑researched public health challenge. Bringing together insights from eleven countries across a densely populated region that accounts for more than one‑third of global suicides, the volume synthesizes the current status, emerging trends, and systemic challenges that shape suicidal behavior in low‑ and middle‑income contexts. It presents country‑specific analyses of epidemiology, data quality, socio‑demographic patterns, legal frameworks, and risk factors, offering a structured comparison that has not previously been available. The book highlights common regional issues—including high stigma, low mental health literacy, inadequate resources, and limited political commitment—while also identifying socio‑cultural influences unique to South East Asia. Additional chapters examine cross‑cutting topics such as media reporting, protest suicide, research gaps, and the need for strengthened surveillance and intervention systems. Through its systematic and evidence‑informed approach, the volume outlines practical and culturally grounded pathways for improving suicide prevention strategies across the region. Designed for researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and students, this book provides a timely and essential resource that will shape future scholarship and support more effective public health action in suicide prevention.

S. M. Yasir Arafat is Associate Consultant of Psychiatry at Bangladesh Specialized Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. He is affiliated with Dnet as an honorary Research Fellow and the Biomedical Research Foundation, Bangladesh, as Senior Research Fellow. He was affiliated with the University of Bristol, UK, as Visiting Senior Research Associate (August 2021–2023). He completed an MD in Psychiatry from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, and an MBBS from the Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh. He also did an MPH in Health Economics and an MBA in Marketing. Dr. Arafat has (co)authored more than 350 peer-reviewed articles and 50 book chapters, and (co)edited more than 10 books with Springer. He has been included in the global 2% researcher list in 2021, 2022, and 2023. He is acting as an editorial member in more than 10 leading journals in mental health published by Elsevier, Wiley, Springer, and Taylor and Francis. His research focused on mental health, suicidal behavior, psychometrics, panic buying, and psycho-sexual disorders.

Sujita Kumar Kar is Professor of Psychiatry at King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. He is Editor-in-Chief of Indian Journal of Health, Sexuality and Culture. He is also the editorial board member and reviewer of various national and international journals. He had written 100 book chapters and more than 600 articles in various national & international journals and made more than 120 presentations at various national and international conferences. He has been included in the global 2% researcher list released by Stanford University in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. His research interests include brain stimulation, neuropsychiatry, and suicide prevention.