Cite as (APA style): Goncharov, M. (2026). A View on Suicide Prevention from the Perspective of Positive Psychotherapy: Towards an Integrated Paradigm. The Global Psychotherapist, 6(1), 282-287
Abstract: Suicide is a profound indicator of personal and societal distress. This article argues that the limited effectiveness of existing prevention strategies largely stems from the dominance of a reductionist, biomedical paradigm that marginalizes the psychological dimension of human suffering. To address this gap, the article proposes integrating a salutogenic (health-oriented) approach with Nossrat Peseschkian’s model of life balance as a methodological foundation for prevention. We contend that effective prevention requires a paradigm shift towards psychological health, the cultivation of a help-seeking culture, and the systematic integration of psychotherapeutic practices into general medical care. Practical recommendations are offered to bridge the current divide between biological and psychological approaches, advocating for a balanced, person-centered model.
Keywords: suicide prevention, Positive Psychotherapy, integrated treatment, salutogenic approach, life balance, psychosomatics, reductionism, existential loneliness, verbalization