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I am delighted to share that we have recently launched our organisational strategy for 2024-2028. This strategy has been prepared through an iterative process incorporating an external evaluation, wider consultation and listening to the membership and partners from across the globe. It centres around four strategic principles; leading global collaboration, expanding reach and diversity, strengthening advocacy and knowledge exchange and driving innovation and impact. Building upon our previous successes, we aim to expand our focus on low- and middle-income countries, where the vast majority of the world’s suicides occur, and where, too often, resources are scarcer. I’d really encourage you to engage with the strategy and work with us as we endeavour to deliver it in the months and years ahead. We stay connected as a global suicide prevention community, together we can turn our vision into reality and create a compassionate world free of suicide. You can access the strategy here if you haven’t read it yet.
It gives me great pleasure to announce the theme for World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) for the next three years: (2024-2026). The theme is: “Changing the Narrative of Suicide” and we have also decided upon the call to action: “Start the Conversation”. This theme aims to raise awareness about the importance of changing the narrative surrounding suicide and transforming how we perceive this complex issue. It also emphasises the need to prioritise mental health and suicide prevention in policy-making, including, calling for government action. In addition, the call to action encourages individuals, communities, organizations, and governments to engage in open, honest discussions about mental health and suicide. Stay tuned as we develop new resources and assets to go along with our new triennial theme!
At the beginning of May, I was delighted to be in Toronto, Canada for the IASP 2024 North American Research Workshop, together with a fantastic line-up of experts and leaders. The workshop aimed to foster collaborative relationships between researchers, clinicians and policy-makers. Delegates were able to engage in an intimate setting to share their expertise, exchange knowledge and collaborate with peers in the field of suicide prevention. I was inspired to hear about the innovative work from North American Early Career Researchers and wish to extend my thanks to our sponsor, the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Closer to home, on 17-18th June, I’ll be hosting the 8th Suicide and Self-harm Early and Mid–Career Researchers’ Forum in Glasgow. This is always a brilliant, welcoming event where we host colleagues from across the globe – the only event of its kind in our field. We have fantastic speakers including Derek de Beurs and Sally McManus. Registration is still open, until 31st May 2024.
Also in May, IASP collaborated with United for Global Mental Health, the Global Mental Health Action Network and others to organise a workshop with support from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The workshop, brought together mental health advocates, policymakers, and other key stakeholders from the Caribbean to address the pressing issue of the criminalisation of suicide. Suicide still remains criminalised in Grenada, St. Lucia, the Bahamas, and Trinidad & Tobago through outdated legislation that prevents individuals from seeking help and support as well as imposing barriers that restrict access to mental health services and help-seeking support. The workshop was extremely fruitful, resulting in the formation of a new regional coalition focused on decriminalising suicide. We look forward to supporting the development of this coalition in the future and seeing momentum grow within the region as we have seen recently in other parts of the world.
The IASP LGBTQIA+ Special Interest Group recently held a webinar on “LGBTQIA+ Health and Mental Health Care in Mongolia”. It was fascinating to hear Jack (Dorjjantsan) Ganbaatar highlight his decade-long experience of establishing health and mental health care for LGBTQI+ people in Mongolia as well as some of the challenges and lessons learned.
One of our organisational assets is the IASP podcast series ‘Reach in, Reach out’, which aims to encourage understanding around the complexities of suicide and highlight what else we can do to reduce the stigma surrounding suicide. This year, we have already uploaded two episodes on the social determinants of suicide and the stigma surrounding suicide, with a range of experts from around the world. Stay tuned as we bring you some more meaningful conversations around suicide prevention.
We are getting closer to the 11th Asia Pacific Conference, which will be held from 3-6 June 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand. This is a key regional forum to share expertise, knowledge, and insights among peers in suicide prevention; we hope the conference will be especially beneficial to delegates in the region and beyond. Registrations are open until Thursday 30th May if you wish to attend in person. Please register here.
We are also looking forward to the first IASP Pan-American Conference from 19-22 November 2024 in Minneapolis, USA. This conference, which will be the final IASP event that I will attend as President, will provide a great opportunity to convene stakeholders from across the Americas, building a platform for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to share innovative and evidence-based approaches to suicide prevention. I hope to see many of you in Minneapolis, if not then, at a future event.
In the meantime, take good care.
