Interview
#22 - Dr Leah Utyasheva on the non-profit that figured out how to massively cut suicide rates
- The 80,000 Hours podcast intends to cover practical challenges in launching development projects and implementing policy in culturally distinct countries, alongside releasing a detailed guide on becoming a China specialist for social impact and an article on UK legal "earn to give" roles this week.
- The Centre for Pesticide Suicide Prevention plans to advocate for banning highly hazardous pesticides in favor of less lethal, widely known substances, aiming to reduce overall pesticide excess and address the underreported issue of stigmatized pesticide suicides.
- The organization expects to collect data from 20 hospitals in India and 10 in Nepal to present clear policy choices to decision-makers, engaging civil society and working through partners to avoid being perceived as outsiders.
- Initial operations will leverage the University of Edinburgh's resources, with a strategy to expand to Sub-Saharan Africa, Taiwan, and other countries after proving viability in India and Nepal.
- A two-year grant from GiveWell is anticipated to fund the initial phase, with plans to renew funding and secure support from other charities, including the UN Environment Programme and FAO, for future expansion into Sub-Saharan Africa.
- The organization expects to hire staff in communications, fundraising, policy work, and government relations, while also recruiting volunteers to fill these roles, aiming to demonstrate cost-effectiveness and tractability within a two-to-four-year timeframe.
- Key performance milestones include determining the strategy's success within two to three years and observing prevention results within two to four years, with the expectation that public policy changes will take a longer timeframe to fully materialize.
- Broader impacts are projected to include freeing up public health resources, increasing the workforce and tax base, and contributing to global sustainable development goals through a combination of means reduction and improved mental health care.
- Risks and challenges include the long-term horizon required for public policy shifts, the need to raise significant additional funding beyond the initial grant, and the necessity of ethical media reporting to effectively reduce suicide numbers.
- External expectations include the United Nations and WHO supporting bans on hazardous substances, with rapid change anticipated among pesticide register office personnel who recognize the feasibility of implementation.