Suicide is a leading contributor to global mortality and three-quarters of these deaths occur in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). Despite recent calls to advance the research agenda surrounding suicide, there is a dearth of evidence supporting effective strategies for early identification and prevention in low-resourced, culturally diverse contexts. In the perinatal period, women have increased risk for suicidal ideation and experience higher rates of violence and violent death. In LMIC settings, up to 20% of maternal deaths are due to suicide and in South Asia, it is a leading cause of death among women of reproductive age. Maternal suicidality also negatively impacts her child’s health. Given the importance of the perinatal period for both mother and child and growing dissemination of task-shifting programs to treat common mental disorders, there is critical and urgent need to incorporate implementation strategies for suicide risk detection and referral within these programs. These strategies must be culturally and contextually feasible and acceptable and, in the context of Pakistan, Peer women are an incredible resource to deliver quality care with evidenced-based efficacy.

This mixed- method study includes development, integration and pilot testing of a suicide prevention programme that has rarely been researched in Pakistan. This mixed-methods pilot feasibility study will develop and assess the feasibility and acceptability of implementing a Suicide Prevention Package (SuPP) within the MNCH health care platform within the Islamabad Capital Territory in Pakistan.