Welcome to the EPA 2022 Interactive Programme 

"This symposium is proposed by the Hungarian Psychiatric Association, the host of EPA-2022. Chairs: Judit Balazs, the President of the Hungarian Psychiatric Association and Danuta Wasserman, former president of the EPA, currently the president elect of the WPA. Speakers: Katalin Szanto (University of Pittsburgh, Psychiatry, Pittsburgh, United States of America), Danuta Wasserman (Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Stockholm, Sweden), Judit Balázs (Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest, Hungary and Bjørknes University College, Oslo, Norway), Zoltán Rihmer (Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary). In the previous century Hungary led the suicide statistics of the world, and though it decreased a lot, it is still the 3rd highest in the EU. Before the Covid-19 pandemic over 800 000 people died each year by suicide in the world. The rates of suicide did not raise during the first 4-6 months of the pandemic, however the prolonged isolation, uncertainty, economic hardship cause long-term stress which can lead to several psychiatric disorders, e.g. anxiety, depression, psychoactive substance use, which all can increase the risk of suicide well beyond the duration of the pandemic. The heterogeneity and the complex relations of suicide risk factors make research on suicide highly important. In this symposium, we will give an update on suicide research. Firstly, we will hear from Katalin Szanto about two possible dimensions of suicide heterogeneity, a) chronological age of the suicide attempter, b) age-of onset of first suicidal behavior. Next, Danuta Wasserman will speak about how the pandemic affects risk and protective factors of suicide and offers recommendations for appropriate evidence-based preventative measures. Then, we will hear from Judit Balazs about nonsuicidal self-injury, which is highly prevalent in adolescents. Moreover, several studies have supported both the distinction and the strong association between NSSI and suicidal behavior. Finally, Zoltán Rihmer will give and overview on ‘Hungarian suicide’ presenting the main descriptive epidemiological features of suicidal behavior in Hungary including trends over time and the main factors that may have influenced Hungarian suicide rate. In conclusion, the symposium highlights the possibilities, and the future tasks of suicide prevention."