Professor Jo Robinson (second from left) and a newly elected team will take office in 2025.
A leading international organisation dedicated to preventing suicide and suicidal behaviour has elected Orygen’s Head of Suicide Prevention, Professor Jo Robinson, as its new president.
The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) works globally to prevent suicide by building partnerships, sharing evidence-based strategies, and encouraging actions to reduce suicide and suicidal behaviour.
The IASP established World Suicide Prevention Day in 2003, and provides a forum for academics, mental health professionals, crisis workers, volunteers, and those with lived experience across 79 countries.
Professor Robinson, a global leader in suicide prevention, said she was truly honoured to be elected as the new president.
"The IASP has been such an important organisation to me throughout my career and I could not be more thrilled and humbled to be the new president,” Professor Robinson said.
“This is an exciting time for IASP as we put our new strategic plan into action, and I am super excited about what the next four years will bring.
“With suicide rates rising in many parts of the world, our work is more important than ever and I am really looking forward to working with the new board, the central office team and all the membership to achieve our vision of a compassionate world without suicide.
“Throughout my time at IASP there has only every been one female president so hopefully this will be a signal to all the awesome women involved in suicide prevention that these sorts of roles are for you too.”
Outgoing IASP President, Professor Rory O’Connor, said he was delighted to welcome Professor Robinson to the role.
“Jo and the newly elected team will be brilliant, and I look forward to watching IASP continue to thrive and flourish under their leadership,” Professor O’Connor said.
“The future is most certainly bright for IASP and our commitment to our vision of achieving a compassionate world, free of suicide, remains strong.”