Man reaching for a bottle from shelves of pesticide bottles Centre for Pesticide Suicide Prevention Upturned bottles in soil one showing label with 'Poison' Ban toxic
pesticides
Corridor in a Bangladesh hospital. Credit: Heshani Sothiraj Eddleston Save lives
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Pesticide poisoning is one of the most common methods of global suicide

The problem

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Banning highly hazardous pesticides saves lives

The solution

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We are the only global initiative dedicated to preventing pesticide suicide

What we do

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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. 

Infographic summarising Centre for Pesticide Suicide Prevention work

*Content warning: videos contain content about suicide and suicidal feelings*

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Introduction to CPSP

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Nepal Case Study

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Vendor 'Gatekeeper' Training

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Udeni: A Survivor's Story

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The Rights of the Child

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Opinion and analysis

Comment and views on issues related to pesticide self-poisoning from the Centre for Pesticide Suicide Prevention team.

Pesticide Suicides Myth vs Fact

Myth-busting pesticide suicide

We explore some of the myths surrounding pesticide suicide.

Farmer in Nepal spraying pesticides on a field

How pesticide poisoning became a global health problem

To mark World Health Day 2024, Ellie Roger explores the causes of pesticide poisoning – one of the world’s major, yet often overlooked, health challenges.

Professor Michael Eddleston with researchers in Sri Lanka

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.

Farm worker spraying pesticides in Nepal

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.