The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) is thrilled to announce the launch of a new Special Interest Group (SIG) focused on youth self-harm and suicide prevention. The SIG aims to tackle one of the most pressing global public health challenges affecting children, adolescents, and young adults.
The newly established SIG is dedicated to accelerating and strengthening the evidence base for the prevention of self-harm and suicide among children and young people. It seeks to enhance understanding of the complex pathways that lead to self-harming behaviour and suicidal ideation, and to understand what approaches are working and why, with the ultimate goal of informing more effective approaches to primary prevention, early intervention, treatment, and postvention.
The SIG is co-chaired by Associate Professor Sarah Hetrick, Associate Professor Michelle Tye, Associate Professor Sarah Fortune, Dr Louise La Sala and Dr Linda Bowden, internationally respected experts in youth mental health and suicide prevention. Together, they bring a wealth of experience and leadership to guide the SIG’s strategic direction and foster an inclusive and multidisciplinary community of practice.
At its core, the SIG aims to provide a collaborative platform for IASP members worldwide who are engaged in youth suicide and self-harm research, practice, and advocacy. By fostering international knowledge exchange, the group will help bridge gaps between academic research, policy development, and frontline services.
“We’re also very excited to use this SIG as a platform to provide opportunities to our members to develop capability in best practice and emerging research methods”, said Associate Professor Michelle Tye. “This is an essential goal, enabling collective efforts to build the evidence needed to improve outcomes for children and young people”.
“This SIG group promotes weaving of knowledge and practice, across the past and present towards the future. A space for early-career researchers to develop, share, and grow connections, whilst fostering capability among research mentors and peers. A safe space to harness a focused approach on highlighting research work, and showcasing international talent,” emphasised Co-Chair, Dr Linda Bowden.
The key objectives of the Special Interest Group are to create a global platform for knowledge sharing among professionals working to prevent self-harm and suicide in youth, and to facilitate the dissemination of research findings that can influence policy, service design, and governmental agendas. The group also aims to support the growth and involvement of early career researchers (ECRs) both within and beyond IASP. In addition, the SIG is committed to promoting multidisciplinary approaches by collaborating with other IASP Special Interest Groups, and to advancing the quality and impact of research by modelling best practices, supporting innovative methodologies, and enhancing the involvement of people with lived experience. A distinctive feature of this SIG is its commitment to nurturing early career researchers. The group aims to inspire and sustain the next generation of leaders in youth suicide and self-harm prevention.
The launch of the Youth Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention SIG marks a significant milestone in IASP’s ongoing commitment to preventing suicide across the lifespan. The group is poised to play a pivotal role in informing more responsive, evidence-based, and compassionate approaches to supporting young people in crisis.
For more information about the SIG and how to become a member, click here.
