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​Suicide prevention in adolescents and young adults: The impact of the headspace program in Australia on youth mental health and suicidal ideation

Professor Debra Rickwood

• Professor of Psychology, University of Canberra Chief Scientific
• Advisor to headspace: Australia’s National Youth Mental Health Foundation

Suicide is the leading cause of death among young Australians and mental disorders are their primary health issue. headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation was initiated by the Australian government in 2006 to reorient the mental health service system to enable young people to seek help early for emerging mental health problems. This presentation will describe the progress of headspace and some of the outcomes it has achieved for young Australians. Particular focus will be on young people who present with suicidal thoughts, and the impact of headspace on suicidal ideation and relevant risk factors.

Suicide in Late Life

Associate Professor Annette Erlangsen

• Leader, Danish Research Institute for Suicide Prevention
• Research Unit of Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Denmark
• Adjunct A. Professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

On a worldwide level, suicide rates peak in older age groups. Actually the oldest old have the highest suicide rate of all age group. Despite the growth of aging societies across the world, the body of evidence for effective interventions to suicide in late life is minimal. The lecture will provide on an overview of epidemiological trends, high risk groups, theoretical considerations, and interventions with respect to suicide in later life.