From Ideation to Action: The Implications of the Three-Step Theory of Suicide for Prevention in Universities

Suicide has emerged as a leading cause of death among university students in China. Due to its profoundly adverse impact, suicide prevention has consistently been a critical priority in university mental health initiatives. The recently proposed “Three-Step Theory of Suicide” (3ST) provides a clear framework for the dynamic process through which suicidal ideation progresses into suicidal behavior. It shifts the focus of research and practice from “which factors are associated with suicidal behavior” to “how these factors contribute to the behavior.” This theory suggests that universities should move away from a static, solution-oriented model and instead establish a dynamic, process-oriented intervention system to systematically enhance the effectiveness of suicide prevention.