Aastha Sethi
Celebrating the women across the globe helping to prevent deaths from pesticide self-poisoning.Using strategic advocacy to ensure that suicide prevention is recognised as a public health priority
Name
Aastha Sethi
Job role
Senior Officer, Policy and Advocacy (Rights) at United for Global Mental Health
Location
India
Tell us about your role?
I work in strategic advocacy for ensuring rights based legislation in mental health, with a major focus on achieving decriminalisation of suicide, particularly in the Caribbean and some parts of Africa. Our approach to decriminalisation is not just amending criminal laws, but ensuring that suicide prevention is recognised as a public health priority. This includes restricting access to means of suicide (mainly pesticides), improving data collection and strengthening emergency support services.
Why is this work important to you?
This work is important to me as it encourages learning, and allows me to interact with diverse perspectives to achieve a common goal – inclusive mental healthcare. I am inspired by passionate advocates around me who continue to push for change with consistency and determination. While policies cannot change everything overnight, I hope to play a small part in this endeavour to create a better world our future generations.
This profile has been compiled for International Women’s Day 2025, to celebrate women across the globe whose work is helping to save lives from pesticide self-poisoning.