International Association Uses Social Networking to Increase Suicide Prevention Awareness

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The International Association for Suicide Prevention is using Facebook and Twitter to increase awareness about World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th, and suicide prevention generally.

The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) is now using Facebook and Twitter to increase awareness of suicide prevention and World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th, an annual event which is co-sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO).

IASP president, Brian Mishara says, “We have listed to date, on our website, over 80 events from 20 countries, involving thousands of participants. These World Suicide Prevention Day activities bring to awareness our essential message that suicide can be prevented and that there is hope. A Facebook Fan page has been set up and we have been tweeting World Suicide Prevention Day developments, and the responses received have been fantastic.”

World Suicide Prevention Day began as an initiative of the IASP in 2003. Since that time, the international observance has grown in stature. On the 10th of September, the IASP and the World Health Organization (WHO) will officially launch World Suicide Prevention Day at a public conference at the United Nations Headquarters at 10 AM. At this meeting, the latest data about suicide around the world will be released and respected speakers will address the theme of this year's observance, “Suicide Prevention in Different Cultures.” The IASP President will also participate in the UN press briefing that day.

For more information about World Suicide Prevention Day 2009, or to become an IASP Facebook fan, or to begin following IASP tweets, please visit the IASP website at iasp.info/wspd/.

The International Association for Suicide Prevention was founded in Vienna (1960) as a fellowship of researchers, clinicians, practitioners, volunteers and national and local organizations. IASP, in official relations with the WHO, believes that suicide prevention should be given greater priority at global, national, and local levels incorporating research that has shown suicide is preventable.

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For further information, contact:

Professor Brian L. Mishara, Ph.D.
President of IASP
Tel: +1 514 987-4832
mishara.brian@uqam.ca

IASP Central Office e-mail: IASP1960@aol.com

Asia-Pacific region contact:
Associate Professor Annette Beautrais
General Secretary of IASP
Tel: 001 203 675 2382
annette.beautrais@yale.edu