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 the suicide prevention continuum and 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 nursing roles 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 nurses’ involvement. The findings further indicate that nurses contribute to universal, selective and indicated suicide prevention strategies. Conclusions Nurses play a crucial role in suicide prevention. However, to fully realize their potential, institutional and systemic changes are required, including enhanced training, stronger organizational support and formal recognition at the policy-level. This serves the best interests of individuals at risk for suicide by holistically addressing 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.