Griffith University

Events

Suicide Prevention in Tonga

Address by Professor Diego De Leo and Dr Allison Milner - December 2011

World Suicide Prevention Day

Where: Worldwide
When: 10th September, 2011

Brisbane event

• WSPD Program for download

AISRAP will be holding an all-day event  (8.30 am to 4pm) for World Suicide Prevention Day, featuring guest speakers and presentation of our research.

Our event will be held on Thursday 8 September 2011 at Christie Conference Centre, 320 Adelaide Street, Brisbane.

The theme is Preventing suicide in multicultural societies.

For further information, and/or to register your interest, please email Wendy or call 3735 3379

4th Asia Pacific Regional Conference of the International Association for Suicide Prevention

Where: Sofitel Hotel, Brisbane
When: 17th-20th November, 2010

The 4th Asia Pacific Regional Conference of the International Association for Suicide Prevention was jointly hosted by The Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention and Suicide Prevention Australia.  This was the first time this type of International Conference had been jointly hosted by two organisations, and focussed on in addition to science,  evidence based programs, research and those who have experienced the affects of suicide firsthand (carers / consumers).

Preliminary Outline:

• Main plenary sessions
• Streaming sessions
• Workshops
• Master classes
• Welcome reception
• Opening ceremony
• Social events
• Closing ceremony

This exciting, innovative and educational conference focussed on all aspects of suicide prevention. This derived from the recommendations from the 3rd Asia Pacific Regional Conference. Some of these recommendations were:

• There needed to be some focus on bereavement
• There needed to be more focus on postvention
• There needed to be a stream for suicide attempt survivors
• There needed to be master classes

For more information please visit the 4th Asia Pacific Regional Conference of the International Association of Suicide Prevention conference website.

Senate Enquiry into Suicide in Australia

1. Submission by AISRAP (PDF 715K)
2. Documents on Suicide data in Queensland and Australia, tabled at public hearing 18 May 2010 (PDF 406K)
3. Public hearing and transcripts - attended by Professor Diego De Leo, Dr Kairi Kolves and Mrs Jacinta Hawgood (PDF 416K)
4. Parliament of Australia Senate Report -The Hidden Toll: Suicide in Australia, 24 June 2010 (PDF 831K)

News

Launch of Professor Diego De Leo' book "Turning Points"

on 25 February 2010 at Mary Ryan's Bookstore, Milton, Brisbane.

Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention
National Centre of Excellence in Suicide Prevention,
WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention

Professor Diego De Leo, Director of the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention at Griffith University, is a recognised expert in both suicide research and clinical approaches to suicide prevention. The publication of his latest book, “Turning Points”, represents in itself, a turning point for Diego. For the very first time, Diego has written a book for a general audience rather than an academic one, which represents his very strong and passionate desire for the general community to hear and understand the meanings behind suicidal behaviour.

"Turning Points" is composed of stories written by those who have survived a suicide attempt and those who have lost a loved one to suicide. The book was launched February 25, 2010 in the company of friends, colleagues and supporters.

Jacinta Hawgood, Diego’s long time research collaborator and friend opened the event as MC, with a touching presentation of her own responses to this book. She reflected on the contribution of 'Turning Points' to the better understanding of the burdens faced by suicidal individuals, as well as the impacts of this on friends, family and wider society.

The Vice-Chancellor of Griffith University, Professor Ian O'Connor, provided the Welcome Address and shared his thoughts on the importance of this work to suicide research and progressing knowledge about suicide.

Cynthia Morton, established author in her own right, shared her own suicidal journey and the positive experience of her work with Diego.

Although he could not be with us, Diego expressed his pleasure at the publication of a book so personal to him and so long in the making via a video link. Certainly, 'Turning Points' is the culmination of Diego's devotion to this field of work. The accessibility of this book to a wider audience contributes to the long-standing efforts to reduce stigma against suicide and allows valuable insight into how people have overcome and survived the act of suicide.

Turning Points is available for purchase from The Australian Academic Press and Amazon, RRP $29.95, ISBN: 9781921513374.