When it's Darkest: Making Sense of Suicide with Prof Rory O'Connor

In this webinar, Professor O'Connor will draw from his new book "When It Is Darkest: Why People Die by Suicide and What We Can Do To Prevent It". His aim is to get to the heart of this most tragic of human outcomes, challenging myths and misunderstandings as well as bringing together the personal and the professional.

Suicide and self-harm are major public health concerns with complex aetiologies. In this presentation, Rory will dispel some of the myths associated with suicide as well as describing the Integrated Motivational–Volitional (IMV) Model of Suicidal Behaviour as we try to make sense of suicide.

Learning Objectives:

1. Have an understanding of the myths surrounding suicide
2. Have an appreciation that the factors that lead to suicidal thoughts are different from those associated with suicidal acts
3. Have knowledge of the Integrated Motivational-Volitional Model of Suicidal Behaviour

About Prof Rory O'Connor

Professor Rory O'Connor completed his PhD at Queen's University Belfast in 1997 and then moved to Scotland where he has been ever since. He joined the University of Glasgow in July 2013 where he is Professor of Health Psychology, Director of the Suicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory and head of the Mental Health and Wellbeing group there. He is a registered health psychologist who is broadly interested in self-regulation processes and health outcomes. He is a Vice President of the International Assocation for Suicide Prevention, a Past President of the International Academy for Suicide Research and a member of the American Assocation of Suicidology. In 2014 he was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. He also serves on the Scientific Review Board of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, is Joint Chief-Editor of Archives of Suicide Research, an Associate Editor of Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior and Behavior Therapy. Professor O'Connor also serves on the editorial board of Crisis. He is a member of the British Psychological Society's Division of Health Psychology (and is an accredited Stage 2 health psychology supervisor) and the European Health Psychology Society. He is also Co-Chair of the Academic Advisory Group to the Scottish Government's Suicide Prevention Leadership Group.