pesticides
Who we are
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.
Pesticide deaths
We work in countries where pesticide suicide is a recognised problem
Which pesticide?
We conduct research to identify the pesticides responsible for deaths
Pesticide regulators
We support the work of national pesticide regulators
Regulation (bans)
We support regulatory action to ban or phase out lethal pesticides
Impact
We measure the impact of bans on suicide rates and agriculture
*Content warning: videos contain content about suicide and suicidal feelings*
Introduction to CPSP
Nepal Case Study
Udeni: A Survivor's Story
Warunika's Story: The Rights of a Child
Sri Lanka's Pesticide Bans Explained
Sign up to our e-newsletter
Join our mailing list to keep up to date with our latest news, events, research and fundraising opportunities.
Opinion and analysis
Comment and views on issues related to pesticide self-poisoning from the Centre for Pesticide Suicide Prevention team.
Myth-busting pesticide suicide
We explore some of the myths surrounding pesticide suicide.
How pesticide poisoning became a global health problem
Ellie Roger explores the causes of pesticide poisoning – one of the world’s major, yet often overlooked, health challenges.
Reflecting on three decades of work to prevent deaths from pesticide self-poisoning
CPSP Director & Founder Professor Michael Eddleston looks back on almost 30 years of work to prevent suicides from pesticide self-poisoning.
Can we really blame farmers for pesticide ‘misuse’?
Dr Leah Utyasheva takes a closer look at the concept of pesticide ‘misuse’ through a human rights perspective.