1.       Suicide rates are a recognized health outcome indicator internationally.  This will be useful not only for psychiatry and mental health services, but also other disciplines e.g. Oncology and Infectious Diseases.

2.       This project will provide information on the natural history and causation of suicide; the contributing factors most amenable to preventive efforts; and the most appropriate target population(s).  This information will aid in planning and place preventive efforts on a more solid foundation.  It will also strengthen the suicide prevention campaigns already carried out by the Ministry of Health Malaysia.

3.       Suicidal acts will cause medical costs which include emergency transport, medical, hospital, rehabilitation, pharmaceutical, ancillary, and related treatment costs, as well as funeral/ coroner expenses for fatalities and administrative costs.  Better and evidence-based efforts at suicide prevention may be able to reduce suicide rates in Malaysia and allow the government/ families to offset these costs.

4.       A structured investigation into the process of identification and reporting of non-natural deaths (specifically suicide) will assist in streamlining the management of dead bodies and ascertaining the manner of death.  Indirectly it will also provide a training exercise for medical officers in reporting deaths by suicide.

5.       The registry will form the baseline for other research in the area of suicide in the future.