As we approach the 33rd IASP World Congress next week in Vienna, I want to take a moment to reflect on our collective achievements and the exciting opportunities ahead.
This year marks the 65th anniversary of IASP—a milestone that celebrates decades of global collaboration, innovation, and advocacy in suicide prevention. As we gather in Vienna, we are proud to present the most ambitious World Congress programme in our history, with more sessions, speakers, and countries represented than ever before. It highlights the strength, depth, and growing momentum of our international community.
At the recent 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, IASP was honoured to stand alongside global partners to spotlight suicide prevention as a critical public health issue. As mental health continues to gain momentum on the global agenda, we welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the first ever side event dedicated specifically to suicide prevention – “Suicide Prevention: A Call for Policy Change and Public Health Action”, hosted by the Government of the Netherlands with United for Global Mental Health and the Global Mental Health Action Network. Suicide prevention requires evidence-based strategies, community-led initiatives, and political commitment. From legal reform in Guyana to pesticide regulation in Sri Lanka, the message is clear: when governments invest in comprehensive, rights-based national strategies, lives can be saved. As an organisation with a non-state actor designation with the World Health Organisation, IASP also took the opportunity to contribute statements to discussions within the main agenda related to universal health coverage, non-communicable diseases and mental health and social connection. We leave Geneva with renewed resolve to ensure that suicide prevention is top of the agenda and integrated into health systems and supported through coordinated, inclusive action across all sectors.
Alongside our advocacy work, we are also committed to amplifying research, lived experience, and innovation in our field. I encourage you all to access our latest webinar recording within the Partnerships for Life Global Initiative promoting learning on best practice and effective interventions in relation to the implementation of suicide prevention strategies and programmes.
I look forward to welcoming many of you to Vienna and am excited for the opportunities we will have to share, learn, and renew our commitment to preventing suicide around the world.
