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 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.
BRIEFING IN CONNECTION WITH THE NETFLIX SERIES '13 REASONS WHY'
The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) has released a statement expressing concerns about the Netflix series '13 Reasons Why,' which was released in the US in March.
The IASP is particularly concerned about the risks and negative impact of this series on young people, especially those who are vulnerable. Across the series there is violation of the media guidelines for suicide reporting, which may lead to a significant increase in copycat suicides, as has been shown consistently by previous research.
With this briefing the IASP aims to contribute to wider dissemination of media guidelines for suicide reporting and more intensive reinforcement of the implementation of these guidelines by media monitoring agencies.
Following a briefing, released by the National Suicide Research Foundation Ireland in recent days, the clip in which the leading actress, a teenage girl, ends her life which is portrayed in great detail, was taken down from YouTube by the Netflix Communications Department.
However, further safety measures are required to prevent copycat suicides among young vulnerable people who will be watching this Netflix series, as outlined in the IASP statement.
Professor Ella Arensman,
President, International Association for Suicide Prevention
Download the Briefing
Read an editorial entitled, "Suicide Prevention in an International Context - Progress and Challenges," that was penned by IASP President, Professor Ella Arensman for IASP's journal, CRISIS.
Upcoming IASP Events
Elections are now underway for the Executive Committee. If you have not yet received your Ballot paper, please contact the Central Administrative Office (CAO), email: wendycliff@iasp.info. Ballot closes April 28th, 2017.
18-22 July, 2017
XXIX IASP World Congress
Preventing Suicide: A Global Commitment, from Communities to Continents
Kuching (Sarawak), Malaysia
Early bird registration deadline now extended to June 15th.
We are pleased to invite you to participate in the XXIX World Congress of the IASP which will be held from 18 - 22 July 2017 in Kuching, the capital of the Malaysian State of Sarawak on the island of Borneo. The Congress will be jointly organized by the IASP and the Malaysian Psychiatric Association in partnership with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), SEGi University, the Sarawak Association of the Nursing Profession, the Sarawak State Health Department, Befrienders Malaysia, and the Sarawak Convention Bureau.
For more information please contact any of the following:
- Prof Maniam (Chair, Organising Committee (tmaniam@yahoo.com)
- Prof Mohd. Fadzillah Abdul Razak (Local Organising Committee Chair) mofadzdr@hotmail.com)
View Non-IASP Upcoming Events.
News
Click here to download our November 2016 News Bulletin
IASP President, Prof. Ella Arensman discusses the success of World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) 2016 which was launched on September 10th in in conjunction with the 16th European Symposium on Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour in Oviedo, Spain, where she gave a keynote address presenting an update of global developments in suicide prevention, including new countries initiating suicide prevention programmes as well as an update of the evidence base supporting healthcare and community based interventions. She notes WSPD contributions from WHO included statements provided by Dr Shekhar Saxena and Dr Alexandra Fleischmann. She details WSPD activities including 1,000 activities recorded in 69 countries, Cycle Around the Globe, where 86,331.76 miles or 138,937.70 kilometres were cycled collectively across the globe. She notes Vice President, Professor Maurizio Pompili, received a prestigious award from the President of Italy for his efforts in organising a major WSPD Conference in Sapienza University of Rome for many years. She also sadly notes the passing of Professor Terry Maltsberger, an international expert in suicide research and prevention and a longstanding member of IASP. She also extends a encourage all of you to participate in the 29th IASP World Congress in Kuching, Malaysia, 18-22nd July 2017: Preventing Suicide: A Global Commitment, from Communities toContinents, hosted by Professor Thambu Maniam.
IASP Vice-President Professor Maurizio Pompili, reports on the two-day conference attended by more than 1,000 people at at Sapienza University of Rome where he was awarded the Medal of Republic President – Medaglia del Presidente della Repubblica. He also notes IASP Board Member Emeritus Professor Diego De Leo presented a lecture pointing to suicide and the role of psychopathology with new interesting implications.
Learn about World Suicide Prevention Day where events spanned across the globe from sunrise to sunset connecting countries as far apart as Ireland and New Zealand; and the launch of the WSPD ribbon with over 100,000 being distributed in Canada alone. Also noted is the total number of kilometres cycled was an immense at 138,937.70km across 24 countries which accounts for close to four times the circumference of the planet. Special mention is made of Ms. Susan Vaughan of Australia and Mr. Martin Plöederl of Austria who individually cycled 4,000km and 2,300km respecitvely. A special thank you was made to Syngenta for their continued support of WSPD.
Discover WSPD activities in Kenya organized by Befrienders Kenya, partnering with the Ministry of Health - Department of Mental Health.
Read about a commemorative seminar celebrating 20 years of Sumithrayo service in remote rural areas of Sri Lanka, attended by over 300 participants and organized by Say Yes to LifeHon. Karu, Speaker of The House of Parliament.
Find images of World Suicide Prevention Day activities in Peru, including a massive WSPD ribbon.
Shares a photo-story book, 'Amayra - The essence of life,' written by an Indian author Swati Kumari and illustrated with the photographs of Saurav Anuraj that was launched on WSPD by SAHAI Helpline in Bangalore, India.
IASP Past President and IASP National Representative, Prof. Brian Mishara discusses suicide and suicide prevention activities in Canada and the massive media campaign carried out by the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention. He also reports on suicide rates among native aboriginal people are much higher than the rest of the population, with several recent suicide clusters in native communities calling attention to the need for more targeted action in suicide prevention, and the recently released the first National Inuit Suicide Prevention Strategy (NISPS).
Learn about the Practice manual for establishing and maintaining surveillance systems for suicide attempts and self-harm published by the World Health Organization (WHO).
IASP National Representative for Pakistan, Dr. Uzma Irfan Siddiqui, reports on suicide and suicide prevention activities in Pakistan, highlighting challenges to be met and one positive outcome; the focus of mental health has been moved from psychiatric hospitals to teaching hospitals and educational institutions, with the aim of better reaching those in need.
IASP National Representative for Slovenia, Assoc. Prof. Saska Roskar discusses suicide and suicide prevention activities in Slovenia, noting that nearly 20 years ago, Slovenia recorded the highest suicide rate since the official death recordshave been established, namely 3,382 per 100,000. Since then, the suicide rate has gradually declined and reached 2,060 in 2015. The decline is observed in both genders and all age groups, with the exception of elderly men (70 +) where an increase is noticed in the last few years. Read about implemented activities, including a network of counseling services was established nationally throughout the country.
President of OM Foundation, Kutch. Gujarat, India, Dr Pandit Devjyoti Sharma discusses the urgent need for a National Suicide Prevention Strategy for India and the work of his foundation.
Learn about IASP's Early Career Group (ECG) for early career researchers, clinicians, healthcare and related professionals working in the area of suicide prevention. The group is being co-chaired by Dr. Olivia Kirtley, PhD; Mr. Carl-Maria Morch, M.Psy., Ph.D. Candidate, and Ms. Caroline Daly, IASP Research Officer and PhD Candidate.
Project manager, Marta Soczewka, shares on the 10th of September 2016 in Poland the campaign Look… I am disappearing, was launched -the first Polish social campaign focused on prevention of suicides among children and youth. She notes that in 2015 Poland reported more than 600 suicides by children aged 5–20 years.
Read a review of the 16th European Symposium on Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour (ESSSB) that was held in Oviedo, Spain from September 8th-10th 2016.
Note that the nominations for the IASP Executive Committee and National Representatives are underway.
News Bulletin also includes an invitation to the XXIX World Congress of the IASP which will be held from 18–22 July 2017 in Kuching, the capital of the Malaysian State of Sarawak on the island of Borneo.
The European Alliance Against Depression deeply regrets the tragic Germanwings crash that occurred in the French Alps and commiserates with the families and friends of the deceased. In this context, we consider it important to provide an update on the nature of Suicide and Depression and to express our concerns about the negative consequences of an increased stigma for patients with psychiatric disorders. Download the statement in PDF format.
