Following the conclusion of our 33rd IASP World Congress in Vienna, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to making this such a warm, energising and hugely successful gathering of our global community. It filled me with so much hope and energy to spend such a wonderful few days with all of you who were there. To those of you who couldn’t be there – you were missed and we hope to see you next time.
In particular, I want to thank our incredible Co-Chairs and the IASP Central Office team for their thoughtful planning. Their efforts were instrumental in creating such a meaningful, inclusive and inspiring event.
This year’s Congress was not only a celebration of IASP’s 65th anniversary, but also a powerful reminder of the strength and diversity of our shared commitment to suicide prevention. I offer my warmest congratulations to all IASP Award recipients whose contributions continue to shape and inspire our field. From research and practice to advocacy and lived experience leadership, your work is integral to the progress we are making together.
I am also particularly pleased to welcome the newly established IASP Special Interest Group on Youth Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention. With young people facing increasing levels of distress and risk, this group will play a vital role in advancing knowledge, sharing expertise, and fostering global collaboration to address youth suicide more effectively. Please get involved if this is an area of interest for you.
In addition, I’m delighted to announce the launch of a new Special Interest Group on Intellectual Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity. This group will focus on addressing the urgent and often overlooked need to reduce disproportionately high suicide rates among people with intellectual disability and autistic individuals. By building an international, multi-disciplinary network, the group will work to promote visibility, share good practices, and support inclusive, community-based approaches to suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.
However, amidst these important steps forward, we are also acutely aware of the growing uncertainty surrounding global mental health funding. In response, IASP recently released a statement of support for our colleagues and partners across the sector who are facing funding cuts and instability. Our message is clear: protecting progress in suicide prevention requires sustained investment, coordinated leadership, and a commitment to evidence-informed, rights-based approaches.
Looking ahead, we are now busy preparing for World Suicide Prevention Day on 10th September. This is another opportunity for our community to come together in solidarity, to raise awareness, and call for action. I encourage you all to engage with the Changing the Narrative on Suicide campaign and join us, in whatever ways you can, in amplifying this message. IASP is working hard to make this year’s campaign as accessible as possible, and we welcome your support in translating resources into other languages – particularly French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, and Chinese. If you can assist, please let us know, and we will ensure your translations are widely shared. Please submit any World Suicide Prevention Day events or activities happening in your country or region—whether in-person or online—so we can help amplify local efforts as part of a truly global movement.
