Nurses’ Roles and Responsibilities in Suicide Prevention: A Scoping Review

Abstract Background: Globally, suicide remains a major public health concern. As frontline caregivers, nurses play a crucial role in identifying and supporting those at risk. Despite their central role, the specific contribution of nurses to suicide prevention across various care settings has not been mapped comprehensively. This scoping review aims to identify potential roles and responsibilities of nurses in suicide prevention within adult care settings from an international perspective. Methods: The review followed the methodological framework for scoping reviews outlined by the Joanna Briggs Institute. A comprehensive search of peer-reviewed empirical studies, case reports, guidelines, standards, policy papers, discussion papers and professional codes was conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL and PsycInfo. Results: A total of n = 25 sources published between 1993 and 2024 in countries across Europe, Asia, North America and Australia were included. Six overarching roles of nurses were identified: Early Detection and Risk Assessment, Relationship-Building and Communication, Education and Advocacy, Risk Management, Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Personal and Professional Self-Management. Each role encompasses specific responsibilities, reflecting the complex and multifaceted nature of nurse’s involvement. The findings further indicate that nurses contribute meaningfully across universal, selective and indicated suicide prevention strategies. Conclusions:Nurses play a crucial role in suicide prevention. However, to fully leverage their potential, institutional and systemic changes are needed, including enhancing training, organizational support and policy-level recognition. This serves the best interests of individuals in suicidal and existential crises and their care-related supports needs, addressing both their existential distress and their care-related support needs. Future research should focus on evaluating the implementation and effectiveness of nurses’ contribution to suicide prevention across diverse cultural and healthcare contexts, with the aim of strengthening nurses’ role in suicide prevention globally.