Siren Conference 2007

SIREN Conference 2007: Preventing Suicides: Using our knowledge to strengthen action in Scotland

SIREN held its second annual conference, "Preventing Suicides: Using our Knowledge to strengthen action in Scotland", on the 25th September 2007 at the Glasgow Science Centre.

Opened by Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health, the conference brought together people working at the grass roots, policy makers and researchers in order to share what they know about suicide and suicidal behaviours, learn from one another and, importantly, help shape the future of suicide prevention activity in Scotland.

Professor Brian Mishara, President of the International Association of Suicide Prevention presented on the latest insights from around the world into how suicides can be prevented. Three key papers on telephone helpline support, intervention and the ethics of suicide prevention on the internet are now available for download:

Brian Mishara Conference Paper 1
Brian Mishara Conference Paper 2
Brian Mishara Conference Paper 3

Professor Louis Appleby , National Director for Mental Health in England and director of the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicides and Homicides by People with Mental Illness also provided early findings of research looking at all suicides completed by people in Scotland who were in contact with mental health services in the year before their death. This research will be published in early 2008.

The conference brought together researchers, practitioners and policy planners with an interest in suicide and its prevention. The level of interest and attendance by almost 300 delegates at the conference was highly encouraging.

Building on both the success of the 2006 conference and the helpful feedback by previous delegates, information and evidence was disseminated on key and crucial issues that impact on suicide. These included; self-harm, public health approaches, young people, at risk groups, clinical interventions and new innovative research.

In order to create a more interactive event and foster collaboration, several workshop sessions were also delivered. Topics included;

• managing suicide hotspots
• supporting adult male survivors of sexual abuse
• self-harm training, suicide risk assessment and management
• using mental health indicators
• interventions on self-harm and young people
• relapse prevention of depression through 'mindfulness'
• support for childhood bereavement

A book of abstracts of symposia and workshop presentations is available for download. Delegate feedback and media interest in the event was very encouraging.

Dr Cameron Stark (SIREN Chair) with Shona Robison MSP, Minister for Public Health.

SIREN Steering Group Members (Jacki Gordon, Dr Rory O'Connor, Professor Steve Platt (ESSSB12 Presidents), Dr Cameron Stark, Phil Eaglesham)

Keynote Speaker, Professor Brian Mishara, President of the International Association for Suicide Prevention

SIREN POSTER PRIZE COMPETITION

SIREN aims to brings together and share "intelligence" / evidence on suicide and its prevention. In doing so it draws on insights gleaned by a diverse range of people – researchers, policy planners and practitioners.

In the spirit of interdisciplinary exchange, a range of posters were presented at the SIREN conference. These were considered in view of their quality and their contribution to a better understanding of suicide prevention.

Delegates view posters at the SIREN Conference

The prize was judged by Dr Allyson McCollam, Chief Executive of the Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health and by Dr Laurence Gruer, Director of Public Health Sciences at NHS Health Scotland.

The winner, announced at the closing session of the conference was Robert Young, Research Associate for Youth and Health at the Medical Research Council's Social and Public Policy Unit in Glasgow. His poster, co-written with Michael van Beinum, Helen Sweeting and Patrick West was titled:

"YOUNG PEOPLE WHO SELF-HARM: WHO ARE THEY, WHY DO THEY DO IT, WHY DO THEY STOP AND WHO DO THEY TELL?"

Dr Laurence Gruer (NHS Health Scotland) presents the prize to the winner, Robert Young of the MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit.

NHS Health Scotland funded the prize, awarding a sponsored delegate place at the 12^th European Symposium on Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour, to be held in Glasgow on the 27-30^th August 2008.

For more information on this event, visit their website www.esssb12.org