This study reports on the cross-national prevalence and risk factors for suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts across 17 countries. A total of 84,850 adults were interviewed about suicidal behaviours and socio-demographic and psychiatric risk factors. The cross-national lifetime prevalence of suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts is 9.2%, 3.1%, and 2.7%, respectively. Across all countries, 60% of transitions from ideation to plan and attempt occur within the first year after ideation onset. Consistent cross-national risk factors include being female, younger, less educated, unmarried, and having a mental disorder. Interestingly, the strongest diagnostic risk factors were mood disorders in high-income countries but impulse control disorders in low- and middle-income countries. The study found significant cross-national variability in the prevalence of suicidal behaviours, but strong consistency in the characteristics and risk factors for these behaviours. These findings have significant implications for the prediction and prevention of suicidal behaviours. The study also highlights the importance of mental disorders as risk factors for suicidal behaviours, with mood disorders being the strongest predictors in high-income countries and impulse control disorders in low- and middle-income countries. The study also notes that the presence of any mental disorder is associated with significantly increased risk in each of the 17 countries. The study has several limitations, including potential response bias, cultural differences in reporting, and the exclusion of certain mental disorders. Despite these limitations, the study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and risk factors for suicidal behaviours across different countries. The findings suggest that there are important cross-national consistencies in the prevalence and risk factors for suicidal behaviours, with female gender, young age, and low educational attainment being key risk factors. The study also highlights the importance of mental disorders in predicting suicidal behaviours, with mood disorders being the strongest predictors in high-income countries and impulse control disorders in low- and middle-income countries. The study also notes that the presence of any mental disorder is associated with significantly increased risk in each of the 17 countries. The study has several limitations, including potential response bias, cultural differences in reporting, and the exclusion of certain mental disorders. Despite these limitations, the study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and risk factors for suicidal behaviours across different countries. The findings suggest that there are important cross-national consistencies in the prevalence and risk factors for suicidal behaviours, with female gender, young age, and low educational attainment being key risk factors. The study also highlights the importance of mental disorders in predicting suicidal behaviours, with mood disorders being the strongest predictors in high-income countries and impulse control disorders in low- and middle-income countries. The study also notes that the presence of any mental disorder is associated with significantly increased risk in each of the 17 countries.This study reports on the cross-national prevalence and risk factors for suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts across 17 countries. A total of 84,850 adults were interviewed about suicidal behaviours and socio-demographic and psychiatric risk factors. The cross-national lifetime prevalence of suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts is 9.2%, 3.1%, and 2.7%, respectively. Across all countries, 60% of transitions from ideation to plan and attempt occur within the first year after ideation onset. Consistent cross-national risk factors include being female, younger, less educated, unmarried, and having a mental disorder. Interestingly, the strongest diagnostic risk factors were mood disorders in high-income countries but impulse control disorders in low- and middle-income countries. The study found significant cross-national variability in the prevalence of suicidal behaviours, but strong consistency in the characteristics and risk factors for these behaviours. These findings have significant implications for the prediction and prevention of suicidal behaviours. The study also highlights the importance of mental disorders as risk factors for suicidal behaviours, with mood disorders being the strongest predictors in high-income countries and impulse control disorders in low- and middle-income countries. The study also notes that the presence of any mental disorder is associated with significantly increased risk in each of the 17 countries. The study has several limitations, including potential response bias, cultural differences in reporting, and the exclusion of certain mental disorders. Despite these limitations, the study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and risk factors for suicidal behaviours across different countries. The findings suggest that there are important cross-national consistencies in the prevalence and risk factors for suicidal behaviours, with female gender, young age, and low educational attainment being key risk factors. The study also highlights the importance of mental disorders in predicting suicidal behaviours, with mood disorders being the strongest predictors in high-income countries and impulse control disorders in low- and middle-income countries. The study also notes that the presence of any mental disorder is associated with significantly increased risk in each of the 17 countries. The study has several limitations, including potential response bias, cultural differences in reporting, and the exclusion of certain mental disorders. Despite these limitations, the study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and risk factors for suicidal behaviours across different countries. The findings suggest that there are important cross-national consistencies in the prevalence and risk factors for suicidal behaviours, with female gender, young age, and low educational attainment being key risk factors. The study also highlights the importance of mental disorders in predicting suicidal behaviours, with mood disorders being the strongest predictors in high-income countries and impulse control disorders in low- and middle-income countries. The study also notes that the presence of any mental disorder is associated with significantly increased risk in each of the 17 countries.