Welcome to this special edition International Association for SuicidePrevention (IASP) news bulletin, in which I would like to announceWorld Suicide Prevent ion Day 2020, of what wi l l be the 18thconsecutive year of WSPD.

This year marks the final year of the triennial theme “Working Togetherto Prevent Suicide” under which WSPD has been observed since 2018.The theme was chosen to remind us that we could all play a key role inhelping those who are struggling to cope, while emphasising the valueof collaboration in this universal commitment. The theme serves toremind us to share our knowledge, experiences and research with eachother to maximise the synergistic effects of teamwork. Together, we cansave lives.

While we look forward to WSPD 2020, I invite you to reflect on the greatsuccess of World Suicide Prevention Day 2019 in the hope that it mayprovoke fresh ideas for activities and events that you might considerhosting in your locality this September 10th. In 2019, as in previousyears, the IASP community came together to mark this international dayof awareness, fulfilling our pledge to spread awareness by creatingdialogue surrounding suicide prevention across the globe.

As members of IASP, we have all made a valuable contribution tobreaking down the barriers, reducing the stigma associated with suicideand spreading the word that it is preventable. Together with our annualCycle around the Globe and Light a Candle events, an array of diversecommunity-initiated events took place across the world during WSPD2019; including seminars, fundraisers, walks of hope and remembranceceremonies. In addition, landmarks were lit up in orange as part of the#LightUpOrange campaign, in a show of suppor t for WSPD.Collectively, these initiatives called public attention to the global impactof suicide.

World Mental Health Day (WMHD) 2019, organised by the WorldFederation for Mental Health and supported by IASP, the World HealthOrganisation and United for Global Health was celebrated on October10th. The focus of WMHD 2019 was 'suicide prevention' in an effort topromote understanding about suicide and highlight effective prevention

activities. The incorporation of this theme in WMHD shone the globalspotlight on suicide prevention once more and rounded off a monthlong campaign, with only 30 days separating both events.

A day for '40 seconds of action' emphasised the significance of suicideacross the globe, highlighting the stark statistic that an individualtragically loses their life to suicide every 40 seconds, amassing toalmost 800,000 deaths per year. Within 40 seconds, one conversationor positive message shared could save a life; a crucial thought to keepat the forefront of our minds.

Both WMHD and WSPD have a common aim: to remind us thatreaching out to people who are going through a difficult time can makea difference. As many people who are feeling low can feel like theirproblems are a burden for others, or that those around them do notcare, reaching out may help to boost their moods and give them hope.Fundamentally, these international days serve to provide an opportunityto show that we care.

As with every WSPD, a wealth of planning and coordination goes intop lann ing the 24-hour wor ldwide even t by our IASP Cen t ra lAdministration Office team. On behalf of the IASP Executive Committee,I wish to express our sincere gratitude to Wendy Orchard, Wendy Cliff,Kenneth Hemmerick, Caroline Daly, Ruth Benson, Katherine Thomsonand Jackie Etches for all of their effort in ensuring the smooth runningof WSPD 2019. Without forgetting the National Representatives whoarranged events in their countries, at both local and national level, weare extremely grateful for your help in making the annual event amemorable success. The official support of Twitter once again forWSPD 2019 was highly appreciated; the custom emoji was a positiveopportunity to spread awareness of the orange ribbon and theawareness day. Finally, I wish to extend my sincere thanks to the WorldHealth Organisation for supporting, promoting and co-sponsoringWSPD.

President: Professor Murad Khan1st Vice President: Professor Jane Pirkis

2nd Vice President: Professor Rory O'Connor

newsbu l l e t i nI n t e r n a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n f o r S u i c i d e P r e v e n t i o n

FROM THE PRESIDENT

3rd Vice President: Professor Ping QinTreasurer: Professor Thomas Niederkrotenthaler

General Secretary: Dr. Daniel Reidenberg

WSPD

Professor Murad Khan, IASP President

newsbu l l e t i nI n t e r n a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n f o r S u i c i d e P r e v e n t i o n

WSPD

IASP In Conversation With... seriesWorld Mental Health Day is organized by the World Federation forMental Health. This year's Day is supported by WHO, the InternationalAssociation for Suicide Prevention, and United for Global Mental Health.

The shared theme of suicide prevention in 2019 provided a uniqueopportunity for campaigns to collaborate and coordinate across thetwo days, 10th September and 10th October.

Through World Suicide Prevention Day, IASP aims to raise awarenessof suicide prevention activities around the world, to highlight theimportance of collaboration through the theme, 'Working Together toPrevent Suicide' and to demonstrate a commitment to reducing suicide.As a leader in restoring brain health, Lundbeck is also committed tosupporting mental health promotion and suicide prevention strategies.

The In Conversation With…series gave leading experts within thef ield of suicide prevention an opportunity to talk about theimportance of their work and how it contributes to the wider field ofsuicide prevention and mental health. The overall aim of the serieswas to showcase the breadth of work, the dedication of those workingwithin suicide prevention and to impart a message of hope: that suicideis preventable.

IASP promoted and supported collaboration and knowledge sharingwith the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH); facilitating acomprehensive and aligned campaign serving each awareness day.

Other Third Party CollaborationsIASP formed part of a joint social media campaign aimed at WorldMental Health Day called #40secondsofaction (in 6 languages) withthe World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Federation forMental Health and United for Global Mental Health. The campaignwas launched on WHO's website on World Suicide Prevention Dayand shared across all partners social media platforms, called foraction to be delivered on World Mental Health Day. WHO reportedthat the campaign achieved 3 million impressions on World MentalHealth Day (1M being their daily target and 2M being their specificcampaign target); a joint report with detailed analytics is beingprepared.

WSPD & WMHD Campaign ImpactWSPD Social Media Reachbetween 1st September – 31st October 2019

The IASP website - www.iasp.info 3.7 million hitsFacebook Page - IASPInfo - 93,811 impressionsTwitter Page - IASPInfo - 2.1 million impressionsYouTube Channel - 2,078 direct views of Lundbeck sponsored

videos.

newsbu l l e t i nI n t e r n a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n f o r S u i c i d e P r e v e n t i o n

WSPD & WMHDAwareness Days

2019

'In Conversation With…'

The reach of the social media campaign is the largest to date. WorldSuicide Prevention Day 2019 was a great success and collaborations withother international organisations has played a central role in this.We look forward to continuing and strengthening our relationships in futureyears.This series was sponsored by Lundbeck.

newsbu l l e t i nI n t e r n a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n f o r S u i c i d e P r e v e n t i o n

• 135 WSPD activities listings in 46 countries

• 15 organization members WSPD pages listed

• Banners created in 70 languages

• Two animated gif banners created

• Light a Candle postcards now in 63 languages

• WSPD brochure created in eight languages

• Facts and Fiqures updated in PowerPoint and Pdf formats

• New Toolkit created

• Suggested activities updated

• Press Preparation Package updated

• 45 videos screened and uploaded to IASP YouTubeWSPD 2019 channel with 2,925 views

• WSPD products listed

WSPD STATS 2019

newsbu l l e t i nI n t e r n a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n f o r S u i c i d e P r e v e n t i o n

WSPD 2019

INDIAThe Neurology Department of BanarasHindu University (BHU), Varanasi helda patient awareness event at whichProfessor Abhay Srivastava, DistinguishedProfessor of Psychology at BHUdiscussed effective stress copingtechniques with patients and theirrelatives. Professor Shri Prakash Shuklaspoke about the value of life.

WSPD 2019

USA

Members of a number of organisationsincluding the Samaritan, the Coalition forBehavioural Health, the National Allianceon Mental Illness, Safe Horizon, ComunilifeInc., and the New York City Council stoodtogether at New York City Hall to raiseawareness of suicide in their community.They shared the message that help isavailable for those who are struggling.

newsbu l l e t i nI n t e r n a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n f o r S u i c i d e P r e v e n t i o n

WSPD 2019SLOVENIA

World Suicide Prevention Day 2019 inSlovenia

Activities around World Suicide Prevention Day in Slovenia arebeing organized in collaboration of UP IAM Slovene Center forSuicide Research, National Institute for Public Health, NationalAssociation for Quality of Life Ozara and Slovene Association forSuicide Prevention. We can report about successful eventshappening in this year.

Cycle around the globe

The Cycle around the globe activity was launched as an onlineevent, promoting cycles to sign in to dedicate their cycleddistances. The activity took place from August 10th, 2019 toOctober 10th, 2019.

In the mentioned period, 288 cyclists joined the initiative andtogether they have cycled 23 432 kilometers. They reportedcycling in all of the Slovenian geographical regions, coveringthe whole country. Some cyclists even exceeded the Slovenianborders and gathered the kilometres in the neighboring Italy,Austria, Croatia and Hungary. Among the cyclists, 170 were menand 118 were women. According to the age distribution, cycles

form a multigenerational group, including children (minimalage: 5) and the elderly (maximal age: 65). We are pleased toreport that there were a couple of initiatives, organized by thelocal branches of the National institute for public health,promoting group cycling and publicly raising awareness inpreventing suicide.

Together for Suicide Prevention - panel ofexperts one day event (Ljubljana)

On WSPD the Slovenian Centre for Suicide Research, togetherwith the National Institute of Public Health, the SlovenianAssociation for Suicide Prevention and the National Associationfor the Quality of Life of Ozara Slovenia, participated in theorganization of a professional consultation which was heldunder the motto "Together for Suicide Prevention". At the expertconsultation, colleagues from the Slovenian Centre for SuicideResearch presented their experiences and most recent findingsrelating to the field of suicidology. The event included 5 plenarysessions, 6 lectures and 4 different workshops, enabling the 150guests to obtain a rich and updated viewpoint on the topic.A special thanks to the organisers and speakers: Dr. VitaPostuvan, Dr. Tina Podlogar, Nusa Zadravec Sedivy & UrsaMars Bitenc.

Press briefing on World Suicide PreventionDay (Ljubljana)

As part of the activities on World Suicide Prevention Day, theDeputy Head of UP IAM of the Slovenian Centre for SuicideResearch, Dr. Vita Postuvan, together with other Slovenianexperts in the field of suicide attended a briefing in which shepresented scientific findings and projects implemented by theCentre in the field of understanding and prevention of suicidalbehaviour in Slovenia to members of the press.

newsbu l l e t i nI n t e r n a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n f o r S u i c i d e P r e v e n t i o n

WSPD 2019AUSTRALIA

The WSPD Community Forum was hosted by Australian Institute for Suicide Research andPrevention and the School of Psychology at Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia. This eventwas kindly supported by the Queensland Mental Health Commission.

A stimulating program of presentations was rolled out on the day, with speakers hailingfrom a variety of local, national and international organisations. Professor Jane Pirkis launchedthe 2019 IASP Cycle around the Globe campaign and even managed to deliver her presentationwhilst clocking up the miles on a bike, inspiring delegates to tag team throughout the event!

ProfessorJane Pirkis(photo left).

Details fromlive drawing atforum (right).

newsbu l l e t i nI n t e r n a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n f o r S u i c i d e P r e v e n t i o n

WSPD 2019

MEXICOThe Pan American Health Organization Mexicocommemora ted w i th g rea t success the#DiaMundialPrevencionSuicidio where in thepresence of state and municipal authoritiesthey continued to disseminate the actions ofthe State Committee on Suicide Prevention onWorld Suicide Prevention Day.

The heroic efforts of the Durango MunicipalPublic Security Directorate were acknowledgedat this event for their outstanding efforts insuicide prevention.

WSPD 2019COLOMBIA

Volunteers in Santander, Columbia took partin the Cycle around the Globe event and talliedover 120km between them, while raisingawareness of suicide prevention in their area.A great effort by all involved!

newsbu l l e t i nI n t e r n a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n f o r S u i c i d e P r e v e n t i o n

Our colleagues at the Rotary Club in Nigeria have donetremendous work this WSPD by gaining over 3000participants to partake in both the Cycle around theGlobe event.The public engagement in thisevent has been outstanding andhas really influenced suicideprevention awareness in thecountry. Well done to all involved!

WSPD 2019NIGERIA

Cycle around the Globe event

Strengthening Society Today (Double St) Foundationconducted a radio interview as part of their activities tomark the World Suicide Prevention Day with Founder &Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Annah Gyang.

Double St Foundation created the Strengthening SocietyToday Foundation Suicide Prevention Project (SSTFSPP),A Public Education Campaign, which included a WordSuicide Prevention Day conference in Plateau State in thedays leading up to WSPD .

The aims of the conference were to:

• Create awareness and promote understanding about suicide

• Define strategies and initiatives for suicideprevention.

• Enhance community participation in suicide prevention activities.

The conference provided an opportunity for participantsto unlearn, relearn and learn about the conversationsaround mental health and suicide.

(Nigeria - cont. next page)

newsbu l l e t i nI n t e r n a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n f o r S u i c i d e P r e v e n t i o n

WSPD 2019NIGERIA

Surpin WSPDThe Suicide Research and Rrevention Initiative (SURPIN)in Nigeria had a number of activities to commemorate thisyear's World Suicide Prevention day. SURPIN is currentlypresent in over 20 states of the country and several of itsmembers/chapters organized activities in various states. InLagos there was a symposium where people from differentfacets of the society, including the police force (RapidResponse Squad), the national drug and food controlagency (NAFDAC), the state ministry of social works,students, those involved in Arts in Medicine and a numberof others gathered to talk about suicide among the youth.There was also exhibition of artworks.

In Ilorin, Kwara state there were also a number of activitiesincluding you walk to create awareness as well as a lectureand public enlightenment on radio. This generated a lot ofinterest in the University community and the town as a whole.

Other places where activities held included in Akure,Ondo state where a walk was held, in Benin city, Edo statewhere there were enlightenment programmes on radio aswell as on TV and in Jos, Plateau state where similaractivities were also organized.

SURPIN also organised a Twitter challenge in order to createawareness on social media and raise funds through donationsand use this to support the costs of antidepressant medicationfor one indigent person each in 10 states of the Federationwere SURPIN has footprints. This was successful and broughtsmiles to the faces of many.

ILORIN

LAGOS SYMPOSIUM

SURPIN was also able to form and strengthen partnership with institutionsand other organizations who partnered them in many of these activities,notably MINDTRUST, ASIDO; and SURPIN took these partnerships forwardinto the world mental health day celebrations.

Dr. Raphael E. OgboluConsultant Psychiatrist/Coordinator, SURPINNational Representative, IASP (2019-2023)

Meg on radio in Jos

newsbu l l e t i nI n t e r n a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n f o r S u i c i d e P r e v e n t i o n

WSPD 2019RUSSIA

The initiative to organize a scientific event in the Saint-Petersburg State University (SPbU) (http://english.spbu.ru/) belonged to IASP national representative in the RussianFederation Prof. Vsevolod Rozanov. It was supported by thedean of Department of Psychology Dr. Alla Shaboltas(http://www.psy.spbu.ru/department).

It was decided to organize a public lecture of ProfessorVsevolod Rozanov with the emphasis on existing suicidetrends and related issues in Russia, conceptual basis ofsuicide prevention, description of the national suicideprevention programs implemented in different countries.The event was registered in the University as research andapplied symposium, the information was widely distributedby official channels and represented on the University andSt.Petersburg Psychological Society web-sites. The lecturetook place on September 16th in the premises of theDepartment of Psychology of SPbU.

Totally, there were 57 participants from the SPbU and othermedical, pedagogical and psychological institutions of St.Petersburg. During discussion such issues as situation withsuicides in different regions and age groups were touched.Russia is a federation and regional differences are huge, fromvery low rates in the Caucasus federal subjects to rather highlevel in the Urals and Central Siberia subjects. In general ratesin the Russian Federation are lowering for the last decades,many local suicide prevention initiatives exist that havecontributed to lowering of the rates. Nevertheless, there isstill much to be done to introduce more suicide preventionefforts on the federal and regional levels, especially inadolescents and young adults age groups.

The event in SPbU on the occasion of WSPD was held forthe first time and hopefully may become a tradition, whichwill play important role in increasing wide public andprofessional circles attention to the suicide prevention issues.

Activities in Saint-Petersburg State University on the occasion of WSPD

newsbu l l e t i nI n t e r n a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n f o r S u i c i d e P r e v e n t i o n

WSPD 2019UK

O n c e a g a i n t h i s y e a r,STORM Skills Training CICgot together a t DidsburyWaterside and amassed astaggering 8,821km for theIASP Cycle around the Globecampaign. Volunteers tookpart by cycling a static bike,as part of a spin class or agym challenge. Well done toall involved in helping raiseawareness on WSPD.

Staff at the Nightingale Mental HealthHospital in London hosted an event inhonour of World Suicide Prevention Day.Their senior staff nurse Risq Animasaunwears a traditional Ghanan head wrap,adorned with candles - a powerfulmessage of solidarity, love and support.

newsbu l l e t i nI n t e r n a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n f o r S u i c i d e P r e v e n t i o n

WSPD 2019URUGUAY

NGO Ultimo Recurso activities celebratingWorld Suicide Prevention Day, 2019. The web-page and Newsletter of National Administrationof Electric Power Plants (UTE) https://portal.ute.com.uy/# published an article from IASPtranslated by Ultimo Recurso staff. About10.000 employees work in UTE. Uruguay has3.500.000 inhabitants.

Edila Fatima Barruta from Parliament ofMontevideo held an excellent speech aboutWSPD and NGO Ultimo Recurso invitingGovernment Authorities to work hard insuicide prevention.

Students, psychologists and social workerscelebrated WSPD in a workshop managed byUltimo Recurso staff. They played to be futurepresidents of Uruguay who shall preventsuicide!