The Directorate of Health
A new action plan to reduce the number of suicides in Iceland has been presented to the minister
22nd January 2025
A working group appointed by the former Minister of Health, Willum Þór Þórsson, has, in recent months, prepared a draft of a new action plan to reduce the number of suicides in Iceland for the years 2025 – 2030. Yesterday, the working group submitted a proposal for a new action plan to the Minister of Health, Alma D. Möller.
Alma is the former Medical Director of Health and knows this field well. The Directorate of Health is responsible for suicide prevention in Iceland and is a professional advisor to the government in that field. During the occasional meeting, the Minister of Health, representatives of the ministry, and the working group discussed the implementation of the action plan and the consultation, presentation, and financing. So far, the budget does not follow the plan. Lífsbrú – Centre for Suicide Prevention will follow up on the work on the action plan in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. Measures will be carried out in collaboration with ministries, institutions and NGOs.
The proposals for the Action Plan 2025 – 2030 support other current policies and programmes in the fields of mental health, public health, and alcohol and drug prevention. Evidence-based knowledge of suicide prevention is used, both domestically and abroad. Reference is made to guidelines from the World Health Organization, clinical guidelines and effective focus points in suicide prevention internationally. The seven categories on which the action plan is based are:
Coordination and organisation
Support and treatment
Restriction of access to hazardous substances, objects, and conditions
Raising awareness and education
Prevention and health promotion
Quality control and expertise
Support for survivors
The plan contains 26 actions that focus on all levels of suicide prevention, that is; prevention, interventions and support after suicide.
In Iceland, 41 individuals have died by suicide on average in recent years (2019 - 2023). The suicide rate was 11.8 per 100,000 inhabitants on average in the years 2013 – 2023.
Suicide is a serious public health problem with far-reaching consequences for society, and an effective action plan is therefore important to promote improved health in Iceland.
In the working group are:
Guðrún Jóna Guðlaugsdóttir, project manager at Lífsbrú - center for suicide prevention at the Directorate of Health.
Ásta Ingibjörg Pétursdóttir, pastor at Langholtskirkja.
Guðríður Haraldsdóttir, psychologist at the Children's Mental Health Center.
Grétar Björnsson, sociologist on behalf of Hugarafl and Geðráð.
Ingibjörg Sveinsdóttir, psychologist and specialist at the Ministry of Health.
Jóhanna María Eyjólfsdóttir, deacon and program director at the grief center Sorgarmiðstöð.
Liv Anna Gunnell, Head of Psychological Services at the Icelandic Health Care Development Centre.
Sigrún Sigurðardóttir, professor at the University of Akureyri, on behalf of the Geðhjálp Aassociation.
Sigurður Páll Pálsson, physician in the psychiatric department of the Landspítali University Hospital.
Tómas Kristjánsson, psychologist on behalf of the Pieta Association.
More information
Guðrún Jóna Guðlaugsdóttir, Suicide Prevention, Project Manager
gudrun.j.gudlaugsdottir@landlaeknir.is