Pre-Congress Workshops

Registration is now open for the following pre-congress workshops. The workshops will be available for delegates to attend and are included in the conference fee. If you wish to participate please indicate your preference when registering; places are limited and will be given in order of registration.

Partnerships for Life: connecting for learning, mutual inspiration and effective collaboration

Facilitated by the Partnerships for Life Steering Group.

This workshop is sponsored by Partnerships for Life (PfL), the global initiative to prevent suicide, launched in 2020 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), the leading international NGO in the field of suicide prevention. PfL aims to establish an international collaboration of experts, supporting the development of a comprehensive, strategic and evidence-informed approach to suicide prevention at national and regional levels.

The workshop is intended to promote collaborative action and peer-learning and networking among experts from a wide range of countries, regions and areas (research, policy and practice). Participants will receive information on how to get started on the journey and more. Ultimately, the workshop aims to promote listening and learning from others’ stories as well as offering “tools” to take home.

Participants are invited to engage wholeheartedly in an interactive, enriching and enjoyable event, which will maximise the opportunity for discussion and peer-learning in both large (plenary) and small groups.

Apart from finding out more about IASP and the PfL initiative, participants will be invited to focus on five (and maybe more) timely and urgent topics and challenges for national suicide prevention action: (1) What is known about suicidal behaviour? (2) Suicide prevention: what’s the story? (3) What is the relevant context? (4) How to make things happen? and (5) How will we know that we’re on the right track? Discussion will also take into consideration key aspects of lived experience, mentorship and collaboration.

We hope to especially attract participants from (a) countries at the start of the suicide prevention journey (b) lower- and middle-income countries, (c) countries that have limited capacity and resources for suicide prevention and (d) countries that do not yet have a national suicide prevention strategy/programme. The workshop is, however, also targeted at: representatives from countries with experience of developing, implementing and evaluating national suicide prevention strategies, who are willing to share their experiences and learn with and from others, who are at a different stage of the suicide prevention journey (peer learning experience).

Most of the workshop will be spent in small topic groups, in which each of the above-mentioned topics is introduced by a short input, followed by time to explore key questions and issues, leading to the development of an agreed set of priority actions, for each topic.

The workshop will be conducted in the English language.

Early Career Researcher Workshop

Facilitated by Jo Robinson & Olivia Kirtley, assisted by Nikolaj Hoier.

Part 1:

Join us for an engaging and collaborative workshop designed to foster connection, mentorship, and the exchange of ideas. The event kicks off with a keynote address from Olivia Kirtley, who will share her insights on open science and its role in shaping the future of our field, followed by a Q&A session. We’ll also introduce the IASP Early Career Group and IASP Special Interest Groups, highlighting opportunities for involvement and collaboration.

Part 2:

Panel Discussion – Research at risk: how to thrive in uncertain times

Panellists: Emmanuel Nii-Boye Quarshie, Ryn Linthicum.

Suicide among Older Adults Workshop

Cognitive Reappraisal Intervention for Suicide Prevention (CRISP) for Middle-Aged and Older Adults Hospitalized for Suicidality

Facilitated by Dimitris N. Kiosses and Dora Kanelopoulos.

Suicide rates for middle-aged and older adults are high and the risk increases within the first 3 months after a psychiatric hospitalization. Psychosocial interventions for middle-aged and older adults hospitalized for suicidality are limited. Cognitive Reappraisal for Suicide Prevention (CRISP) is a 12-week psychosocial intervention designed to reduce suicide risk in this population within 3 months after discharge from a suicide-related hospitalization. CRISP’s theory of suicide prevention is based on the following assumptions: 1) hospitalization for suicidality is preceded by a personal emotional crisis (“perfect storm”)—hospitalized patients have had difficulty dealing with this emotional crisis, leading to increased suicidal ideation and/or a suicide attempt; 2) this emotional crisis is related to personalized (patient- and situation-specific) triggers; and 3) identifying these personalized triggers and the associated negative emotions and providing strategies for an adaptive response to these triggers and negative emotions will reduce suicidal ideation and improve suicide prevention. CRISP aims to reduce suicide risk by using simplified, easy to administer and use, cognitive reappraisal strategies (i.e., a widely used emotion regulation strategy). The therapists utilize these techniques in situations that trigger negative emotions, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behavior.

The workshop will focus on the clinical applications of CRISP during its 4 stages. Specifically, the four stages include: identification of the “perfect storm”; identification of situations/triggers, negative emotions and thoughts; examination of the utility of negative emotions; personalized cognitive reappraisal techniques. It will also highlight additional aids to utilize the CRISP techniques during periods of stress and heightened negative emotions such as the WellPATH tablet app and written step-by-step plans. The workshop will include clinical training of the techniques, case studies, and discussion on the challenges of helping middle-aged and older adults after a suicide-related hospitalization.

Learning Objectives

Identify and overcome the challenges in helping middle-aged and older adults who have been recently hospitalized for suicidality.
Develop rapport and involve the family when appropriate.
Identify the “perfect emotional storm”, the personalized triggers and the negative emotions, and develop personalized techniques to reduce the negative emotions associated with suicidal behavior.

Integrating Lived Experience in Program Design Workshop

Facilitated by Bronwen Edwards, CEO Roses in the Ocean

This interactive workshop explores the meaningful integration of lived experience of suicide into program design, emphasizing respectful engagement and collaborative approaches to create more effective and inclusive programs.

Through a range of small group activities, practical application and collaborative discussions, this workshop addresses critical aspects of integrating lived experience, including:

Assessment of various participatory methods.
Determining when co-design is (and isn’t) the most appropriate approach.
Applying essential principles for engaging with people with lived experience
Key considerations for meaningful integration of lived experience into program design.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be equipped to:
Implement effective strategies for engaging people with lived experience;
Design more inclusive and responsive programs;
Create safe and supportive environments for lived experience consultation;
Embed guiding principles for meaningful integration of lived experience in program design;
Honour and value lived experience contributions.

Creating global circles of safety: a collective approach to mental health first aid

Facilitated by Jakqui Barnfield and Marc Bryant

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) has established a global network of 8 million individuals equipped to intervene in mental health crises, but how can we ensure its impact reaches communities in low- and middle- income countries and those that prioritise collective mental health?

This pre-congress workshop will explore a new model of MHFA that moves beyond an individualistic approach, focusing on community-driven, culturally responsive mental health support, particularly in low and middle-income countries.

Led by Dr Jakqui Barnfield and Marc Bryant, this interactive 3-hour session will build capacity for those working with populations at higher risk of distress or suicide. The session will draw on insights from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MHFA program, examining how the world’s oldest living culture’s holistic, collective approaches to mental health and suicide prevention can be integrated into global MHFA frameworks. Participants will explore how to incorporate local knowledge, overcome access challenges, and foster positive mental health in workplaces and communities.

As global megatrends such as conflict, climate change, and economic instability contribute to rising distress, scalable and sustainable solutions are increasingly essential. The session will also explore how technology access issues can be overcome, as well as how we can leverage it to expand MHFA’s reach and impact, building on the success of the past 25 years.

The final 2-hour consultation offers attendees the opportunity to contribute to the development of a world-first global MHFA program that can support low- to middle-income countries, ensuring every community can access evidence-based community-led models of care. 

Designed for researchers, practitioners, and workforce leaders, this workshop will help shape MHFA as a collective, global initiative focused on overcoming barriers to disclosure, support, and professional care – ultimately creating circles of safety to strengthen global mental health systems.