First C-SSHRI Member Get-Together

Author: Fenella Ryan

Connecting Suicide and Self-Harm Researchers

Today, the NSRF will host the first (virtual) get-together of C-SSHRI members.

C-SSHRI stands for Connecting Suicide and Self-Harm Researchers on the island of Ireland and the initiative came about through a shared desire by the NSRF, the Higher Education Authority and the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention, to fulfill Action 7.4.2 in Connecting for Life, Ireland’s national strategy to reduce suicide.

C-SSHRI is a new Network, which aims to bring together those working in the area of suicide and self-harm research, to facilitate closer collaboration and a sharing of findings.

Networking

We may have lost many of our usual networking opportunities recently, but we hope today to get to know others working in the suicide and self-harm research sphere and, through 3-minute ‘rapid’ presentations, hear an introduction to each other’s work. The next best thing to hanging around a conference pastry table!

Want to learn more or get in touch?

Anyone in Ireland, North or South, who is working in the area of suicide or self-harm research, is welcome to become a member of C-SSHRI and to join the meetings. If you would like to read more, please visit C-SSHRI – National Suicide Research Foundation (nsrf.ie) or email csshri@ucc.ie.

National Suicide Bereavement Survey

Authors: Dr Eve Griffin and Dr Selena O’Connell

*Please note this survey is now closed for responses. Thank you to all who participated.

On October 5th, 2021, the first national survey of people bereaved by suicide was launched. The aim of this survey is to examine the experiences of people who have been bereaved by suicide in Ireland. We want to learn about the supports and services that people used following bereavement and if there are gaps or barriers to accessing these supports.

When a person dies by suicide, it affects a number of people around them. While we use the term bereavement, we are seeking to hear from a range of people who have experienced loss to suicide. This includes people close to the person such as friends and family, as well as other people who were affected by the death such as emergency service staff, professionals caring for the person, a passer-by who witnessed the death, neighbours or other members of the community.

The findings of this survey will be used to inform the services for people bereaved by suicide in Ireland. We hope that information on the supports that people find helpful, gaps in services or barriers to accessing to services will be used to adapt future services so that people in Ireland can access the support they need. The outcomes of this research will directly inform actions of Connecting for Life, Ireland’s National Strategy to Reduce Suicide.

Researchers at the NSRF are collaborating with HUGG (Healing Untold Grief Groups) to conduct this survey, funded by the HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP).

The EAAD-Best project

Author: Dr Grace Gully, Post-Doctoral Researcher, PRISM/EAAD-BEST

“We know enough about how to improve the care of depression and how to prevent suicidal behaviour; we simply have to do it!” [1]

I began working with an inspiring international team of collaborators on the EAAD-Best project in April of 2021. At that point, the European Alliance Against Depression (EAAD) had spent over 15 years developing their four-level community-based intervention that aims to improve the care for people with depression and prevent suicidal behaviour.

The implementation of the EAAD intervention involves bringing together relevant members of health and community organisations to form regional alliances against depression. Together, the members of each regional alliance roll out the intervention activities within their community. To date, the four-level intervention has been implemented in more than 120 regions in 15 countries within and beyond Europe.

Importantly, a substantial body of evidence indicates that the EAAD community-based intervention is an effective and worthwhile approach to suicide prevention.[1],[2] Therefore, the core objective of the EAAD-Best project is to implement the intervention in as many communities across Europe as possible. In Ireland, we are starting with the development of a Cork Kerry Regional Alliance Against Depression and are excited to explore the development of alliances in additional regions over the course of the project. 

An additional objective of the EAAD-Best project is to promote the international uptake of the iFightDepression® (iFD) tool, an online self-management programme for individuals experiencing mild-to-moderate depression, which has been shown to have significant antidepressant effects.[3] As part of EAAD-Best, the iFD tool will be implemented as a core component of the EAAD community intervention and offered for use nationally in primary care, secondary mental health services, and third level student health services.

If you would like to know more about the EAAD-Best project, find out how you can start your own alliance or ask about contributing to an established alliance, contact infonsrf@ucc.ie.

You can also access more information at the following sources:

The EAAD-Best team in Ireland involves Dr Grace Cully, Prof Ella Arensman, Ms Eileen Williamson, Ms Eileen Hegarty, Mr Niall McTernan.

The EAAD-Best project is funded within the Annual Work Programme 2020 of the 3rd EU Health Programme (HP-PJ-2020) (Grant No: 101018325).

[1] Hegerl et al. 2019: PLoS One. 14(11):e0224602.

[2] Hegerl et al. 2013: Neurosci Biobehav Rev 37:2404-9

[3] Oehler et al. 2020: JMIR 22.7: e15361

Welcome to our new website

Welcome to the brand new National Suicide Research Foundation website and our exciting new blog!

Re-design

The NSRF team wanted to create a modern web space where we can easily share our suicide and self-harm research projects, findings and learnings with interested researchers, policy makers, students and members of the public.

After months of re-organising content, editing and designing, we are delighted to share our new-look website with you.

New features

We have added some new features, including this blog. We will use this blog to share updates and information about our research and projects, as well as general NSRF news. So be sure to keep an eye out on our homepage and our Twitter page [@NSRFIreland] for all our latest posts.

Explore

We invite you to explore our new site and to please email infonsrf@ucc.ie with any questions or queries.

Verified by MonsterInsights