The Centre for Pesticide Suicide Prevention (CPSP) works to reduce the number of pesticide suicides worldwide. We are a philanthropically funded research and policy initiative within the University of Edinburgh.
An estimated 14 million people have died from pesticide self-poisoning since the Green Revolution, making it one of the most common methods of global suicide. We work in low and middle-income countries, where pesticide self-poisoning is a recognised and significant health problem, in collaboration with national policy-makers. Our work aims to identify lethal pesticides responsible for deaths and end their use through regulatory action.
Professor Michael Eddleston reflects on steps taken in 2023 to reduce international use of highly hazardous pesticides and the impact this could have on suicide rates.
Mark Davis explains why Sri Lanka’s pesticide suicide prevention policies remain a story of success and shouldn’t be confused with their poorly executed move to organic agriculture in 2021.