As August begins, our attention across the IASP community turns firmly towards September and to World Suicide Prevention Day; a day when the global suicide prevention community comes together, and when the work so many of you do quietly and consistently throughout the year becomes visible to the wider world.
We are now in the final year of our three-year theme, Changing the Narrative on Suicide. Suicide remains a major public health problem, with more than 720,000 lives lost worldwide each year and countless more people profoundly affected. Changing the narrative asks all of us; individuals, communities, organisations and governments, to engage in open and honest discussion about suicide and suicidal behaviour, so that we can break down barriers, raise awareness and build cultures of understanding and support.
The full suite of World Suicide Prevention Day resources is now available and has been refreshed for 2026. You will find banners for your website and social channels, suggested posts to make sharing straightforward, outreach briefs tailored to different audiences, and details of Light a Candle, our long-standing invitation to light a candle near a window at 8pm on 10 September in support of suicide prevention, in memory of those we have lost, and in solidarity with those bereaved by suicide. There are also dedicated pages setting out how individuals, communities, organisations and governments can each take part meaningfully, wherever they are on their journey.
I am especially pleased to introduce Move for Life, the newly named evolution of our much-loved Cycle Around the Globe campaign. Move for Life opens the invitation far wider: whether you walk, run, cycle, swim, or simply move in whatever way works for you, you can take part and dedicate your movement to suicide prevention. The change of name reflects something we have heard clearly from our community; that people want to come together in ways that are inclusive, accessible and joyful. I warmly encourage you to sign up, to bring your colleagues, friends and families with you, and to share what you do so that others are inspired to join in.
Whatever you are planning, please do add your event to the WSPD events map. Seeing activity appear across every region is one of the most powerful reminders of the reach of our movement, and it helps others find events near them. You can also browse what is already happening around the world.
Before then, many of us will gather in Vilnius for the 21st European Symposium on Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour (ESSSB21), taking place from 26 to 29 August. IASP is proud to be an official partner of this year’s symposium. ESSSB is one of the most significant meetings in our field, and the theme for 2026 – Rethinking Suicide Research and Prevention – is a fitting one, inviting us to look afresh at how we understand and respond to suicide. The programme deliberately spans disciplines, from psychology, psychiatry and public health through to sociology, philosophy, policy studies and anthropology, and I have no doubt the conversations in Vilnius will be all the richer for it. For those able to attend, I very much look forward to seeing you there.
Looking beyond, there’s a great deal to look forward to. The IASP Pan-America Regional Forum in Costa Rica brings together leading voices from across the region, with plenaries spanning national strategies, the 988 crisis line, media and youth, and Costa Rica’s own prevention efforts. All sessions include live translation in English, Spanish and Portuguese, making it as accessible as possible across the Americas. And in the Asia Pacific, earlybird registration for our Asia Pacific Regional Forum in Fiji (14–16 September, Denarau Island) has been extended to 15 August, with a plenary line-up and workshop programme grounded in Pacific leadership, cultural knowledge, and community-led prevention. Please take a look at both of these events and, if you can, please join us. Preparations also continue for the 34th World Congress in Colombo in 2027, with bursary opportunities being announced. Alongside these, work continues across our Special Interest Groups, our Partnerships for Life initiative and our advocacy on decriminalisation and other priorities.
World Suicide Prevention Day belongs to all of us. Every conversation started, every candle lit, every kilometre moved, and every event held adds to a global picture that says clearly: suicide is preventable, and none of us is alone in this work. It is also a busy time and, as always, I extend my thanks to the Central Office team and all of our members for all the important work that you do.
