World Suicide Prevention Day, observed worldwide on 10 September, has special relevance in the WHO European Region, where 140 000 people lose their lives to suicide each year. The Russian Federation has been among the first countries to see the value that a well-functioning self-harm surveillance system can bring to suicide prevention efforts. In partnership with WHO/Europe, it has been developing such a system, insights from which can support similar efforts in other Russian-speaking countries of the Region.