Welcome!
The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) is dedicated to:
- preventing suicidal behaviour,
- alleviating its effects, and
- providing a forum for academics, mental health professionals, crisis workers, volunteers and suicide survivors.
Founded by the late Professor Erwin Ringel and Dr. Norman Farberow in 1960, IASP now includes professionals and volunteers from more than fifty different countries. IASP is a Non-Governmental Organization in official relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO) concerned with suicide prevention.
If you are feeling suicidal or know of someone who needs help, browse Help to find a crisis center anywhere in the world.
Awards
The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) provides awards for those who have contributed in a significant way to the furthering of the aims of the Association. Awards are presented at the IASP biennial congress to be held in Oslo, Norway in September, 2013.
Visit the IASP Award Web page to learn about the Stengel Research Award, the Ringel Service Award, the Farberow Award and the De Leo Award.
Please click here to download the IASP Awards information sheet in PDF Format that details the four awards available.
News
Please click here to download a copy of the News Bulletin in PDF format.
President Lanny Berman discusses fluctuations in suicide rates that are difficult to explain but contends "with international efforts to implement and evaluate coordinated suicide prevention strategies, notably at a clinical services level with individuals identified as at risk, we might also find suicide rates more consistently trending down both within and among our member countries."
Two IASP Special Interest Groups (SIG) have been created; one for the Prevention of Intentional Poisoning with Pesticides and the other to further understand Suicidal Behaviour in Adolescents. Pesticide poisoning is recognised by the WHO to be the single most important global means of suicide and is a significant burden on health services. In a recent systematic review the global estimate of deaths due to pesticide self-poisoning was between 250-370,000 people each year. The widespread availability of highly toxic pesticides in rural communities in Asia and some other parts of the world has made ingestion of pesticides the most common means of suicide in these communities.
At least 100,000 adolescents die by suicide every year and among youngsters aged 15 to 24, suicide is the third cause of death. Moreover, the real number of suicides is higher than the statistics show and suicide in adolescence is often underestimated.
For more information or to join the mailing list, please send your name, organisation, contact details to Melissa Pearson (melissa@sactrc.org) for the Prevention of Intentional Poisoning with Pesticides SIG; and to Prof. Marco Sarchiapone (marco.sarchiapone@me.com) for the Suicidal Behaviour in Adolescents SIG.
US National Representative Dr. Dan Reidenberg, discusses the revised National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, stressing the new national strategy was written to foster and engage a public dialogue about suicide, to counter shame and prejudice, address the needs of the full lifespan approach to suicide prevention and the needs of special populations/vulnerable groups. In addition, the Strategy was written with a "community-based" mindset to build upon the understanding and belief that suicide prevention efforts take place among family, friends, neighbors, and in local communities as well as in state and national government bodies.
The IASP News Bulletin has started a new series of Young Researchers to provide them with an opportunity to promote their research for an international forum. In each issue, a young researcher who is currently completing his/her PhD will be invited to present their research. The first column in this series has been prepared by Jennifer McLaughlin, PhD Student at the University of Stirling, Scotland, and is entitled "Understanding Intimate Partner Abuse and Suicide Risk."
IASP Webmaster Kenneth Hemmerick reports World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10, 2012) was an outstanding success with over 450 activities in 74 countries listed; a significant increase over previous years.
Learn about the Andrej Marusic Award that has been recently assigned to three young researchers in the field of suicidology: Dr Olatunde Olayinka Ainde, Dr Alja Videtic and Chris Hagan. Read summaries of the research proposals of the successful candidates.
Prof.Ferenc Túry and András Székely pen an obituary for Maria Kopp, a clinical psychologist who was the founder of the Institute of Behavioural Sciences at Semmelweis University, and whose scientific work includes nearly 300 publications.
Learn about the 5th Asia Pacific Conference of the International Association for Suicide Prevention to be held from 29th Nov to 2nd Dec 2012.
Discover IASP's regional symposium, "Suicide Prevention in Rural Caribbean" to be held 22 - 25 May 2013 in Paramaribo, Suriname. Co-organized by the Institute for Graduate Studies and Research (IGSR), part of the Anton de Kom University of Suriname. IGSR is involved in research and programs concerning the prevention of suicide. This Symposium aims to provide local participants with an update on suicide research and prevention in Suriname.
Lars Mehlum M.D. Ph.D. President of the 27th IASP World Congress, to be held in Oslo, Norway between the 24th and 28th of September 2013, announces the second call for papers. The theme of this congress is "Preventing Suicidal behavior on Five Continents - Innovative Treatments and Interventions." He notes "Delegates will be presented with a rich scientific programme highlighting the latest developments in suicidological research and prevention. A key word to all content is innovation. The enormity of the problem of suicidal behaviour world-wide calls for creative and courageous efforts to bring new ideas and new knowledge into practical work in effective approaches of treatment and intervention."
Learn about the benefits of becoming a member of the IASP.
Upcoming Events
22-25 May, 2013
International Association for Suicide Prevention Regional Symposium in the Caribbean
Suicide Prevention in Rural Caribbean
Paramaribo, Suriname
Download the Symposium flyer.
10 September, 2013
World Suicide Prevention Day
24-28 September, 2013
XXVII IASP World Congress
Preventing suicidal behaviour on five continents - Innovative treatments and interventions
Norway, Oslo
Download the Congress 1st Announcement.
Download 2nd Announcement and Call for Papers.
16-20 June, 2015
XXVIII IASP World Congress
New Technologies and New Discoveries in Suicide Prevention
Montréal, Québec, Canada
The 28th World Congress of the International Association for Suicide Prevention, in collaboration with the Quebec Suicide Prevention Association, the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention and Suicide Action Montreal, will be held from June 16-20, 2015 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The congress theme is: New Technologies and New Discoveries in Suicide Prevention. For further information, please click here to contact Professor Brian Mishara.
A new Clusters and Contagion in Suicidal Behaviour Special Interest Group has been created.
The following IASP/WHO suicide bereavement publications are available:
Preventing Suicide - How to Start a Survivors' Group
Click on translation below to download a copy of the guide.
(Estonian | Flemish | French | Japanese | Polish | Serbian | Spanish)
Please visit the IASP Web Directory for additional suicide bereavement resources.
Click here to download the latest IASP Postvention/Suicide Bereavement Special Interest Group Newsletter.
Joe Ferns, Executive Director of Policy, Research & Development discusses the Samaritans and their efforts in tackling suicides on the railway in the United Kingdom. Learn about Network Rail Partnership, emotional support outside of the Branch, training courses for railway staff, and outreach with community health and mental health services.
Martin Ryan (Counsellor, Support After Suicide), Rebecca Lister (Animateur) and Louise Flynn (Manager, Support After Suicide) pen an article entitled, "A voice for those bereaved by suicide; The "Nothing Prepared Me for This," a Melbourne, Australia, writing and performance project involving the bereaved that deals with the shame and stigma associated with suicide. Learn about workshops held and evaluations carried out.
Gry Lunde reports about the Norwegian Organization for Suicide Bereaved, LEVE, and its efforts in working with young suicide bereaved people through establishing and running youth camps. Three camps were held which included more than 40 participants between the ages of 18 and 33 years. The project has had good media coverage, and in 2013, some of the project youth met with the Minister of Health and the Norwegian Crown Prince and Princess.
Christie Toribara introduces a free new resource called "Grieving Resource -a Guide to Books and Other References," published by SMILE (Students Mastering Important Life-Skills Education), a non-profit educational organization dedicated to providing children and young people with life-skills needed to cope adquately with the challenges they will face throughout their lives. View current projects.
View Upcoming Events and the Postvention Special Interest Group (SIG) contact details.
