A Buddhist Approach to Suicide Prevention
Chamlong Disayavanish MD, MS*, Primprao Disayavanish MA, PhD*
Affiliation : * Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai
The majority of the Thai population is Buddhists and Buddhism has a great deal of influence on their
mind, character, way of life, and health, particularly mental health. According to the Four Noble Truths
(CattÅri ariyasaccani), suicide is a form of suffering that is originated from craving (TaœhÅ). Therefore, human
beings cannot avoid suffering by taking their own lives, nor do they escape from “the wheel of suffering” by
doing so. Moreover, the consequence of suicide is a rebirth in the woeful planes of existence, and hence further
suffering endlessly.
From the present study, the Buddhist approach to suicide prevention can be considered in the
following areas: 1) Buddhist attitude toward suicide, 2) faith and confidence in life after death, 3) providing
monks with general knowledge and understanding about suicide and life after death, 4) early identification
of mental disorders, persons at risk of suicide and prompt referral to appropriate mental health professionals,
5) control of access to instruments of suicide, 6) control of alcohol and drug abuse, 7) prevention of HIV
infection, 8) responsible media reporting and 9) practice of meditation.
Keywords : Four Noble Truths, Suicide, Suffering, Craving, Woeful planes of existence, Meditation
