Karolinska Institutet
National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental lll-Health
Danuta Wasserman (DW) is a Univ. Prof. Dr. Med. in Psychiatry and Suicidology at Karolinska Institutet (KI), and the current Director and Founding Head of the National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health (NASP) at KI, since 1993. DW is appointed as the Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Research, Methods Development and Training in Suicide Prevention since 1997. Prof. Wasserman serves as the chair of the European Psychiatric Association (EPA) Committee on Ethical Issues. She is the former president of the EPA and the International Academy of Suicide Research (IASR). DW was elected President-Elect for the WPA 2020. Her work focuses on the development of suicide preventive research and programmes on five of the continents.

Moderator of 3 Sessions

Saturday, 4 June: Congress Opening

Session Type
EPA TV
Date
Sat, 04.06.2022
Session Time
17:00 - 17:30
Room
EPA TV
Session Icon
Fully Live, Live TV

Tuesday, 7 June: Daily Overview

Session Type
EPA TV
Date
Tue, 07.06.2022
Session Time
09:30 - 10:00
Room
EPA TV
Session Icon
Fully Live, Live TV
Session Type
Joint Session
Date
Tue, 07.06.2022
Session Time
15:00 - 16:30
Room
Hall D
Session Description
"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."
Session Icon
Fully Live

Presenter of 5 Presentations

EPA Pascal Boyle Prize announcement

Session Type
Opening Ceremony
Date
Sat, 04.06.2022
Session Time
18:30 - 19:30
Room
Hall A
Session Icon
Fully Live
Lecture Time
19:05 - 19:10

COVID-19 and Suicide in the World

Session Type
Joint Session
Date
Tue, 07.06.2022
Session Time
15:00 - 16:30
Room
Hall D
Session Icon
Fully Live
Lecture Time
15:17 - 15:34

Compulsory Admissions of Patients with Mental Disorders in Europe: State of The Art on Ethical and Legislative Aspects

Session Type
Mental Health Policy
Date
Mon, 06.06.2022
Session Time
08:00 - 09:30
Room
Hall B
Session Icon
ECP, Fully Live
Lecture Time
08:00 - 08:17

Abstract

Abstract Body

Globally, mental health legislation has been changing and evolving throughout time. Compulsory admission is when patients with mental disorders are admitted to a psychiatric unit against their own will to receive treatment. In Europe, as public attitudes and practices shifted, compulsory admission procedures were reformed to ensure patient rights and safety. Differences however exist for compulsory admission procedures between countries. In 2018, a survey was created and disseminated by the European Psychiatric Association Ethics Committee to National Psychiatric Associations within 40 European countries to learn more about the legislation, key actors involved, and reasons for admission. Results showed that approximately half of the responding countries required an independent medical expert, typically a psychiatrist, to be involved in the procedure. Most countries by law required the involvement of a court-appointed judge in making the decision about compulsory admission and to review the case after a certain period of time. All but one country have time limits on legal decisions for compulsory admission. Further, patients have the right to obtain legal counsel to assist them through the process of appeal or the decision in most countries. The primary reasons for admission were the patient being a danger to themselves or others. Despite continued efforts, stigma still surrounds mental health disorders. Public awareness and increased knowledge are needed to improve the perception of compulsory admissions. Moving forward, it is necessary to create educational courses, as well as written guidelines for key actors, to stimulate good practice and promote voluntary treatment (Wasserman et al. 2020; https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2020.79).

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Has Suicide Really Increased After the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Session Type
Educational
Date
Mon, 06.06.2022
Session Time
10:00 - 11:30
Room
Hall A
Session Icon
Fully Live
Lecture Time
10:00 - 10:17

Abstract

Abstract Body

Despite being preventable, approximately 800,000 people die by suicide each year worldwide. Evidence suggests that suicide rates decrease during crises, but once the immediate threat passes, suicide rates are expected to increase. The COVID-19 pandemic likely affects risk and protective factors for suicide. Studies show mixed results regarding whether suicide behaviours have increased among adults during the pandemic. The results are however different for young people. An increase in suicidal behaviours has been identified in some countries among young people after lockdown period and when returning to schools. Data also suggests that there may have been a rise in deaths by suicide among those younger than 18 years in China, and during the first phase of lockdown in the United Kingdom. Studies have found significant decreases in hospital admissions for suicidal behaviours and visits to emergency departments both for adults and adolescents. Suicide can be prevented if evidence-based methods that exist are implemented in a systematic way. Wasserman, D., Iosue, M., Wuestefeld, A., & Carli, V. (2020). Adaptation of evidence-based suicide prevention strategies during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. World psychiatry: official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 19(3), 294–306.

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Suicide in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Session Type
Research
Date
Sat, 04.06.2022
Session Time
11:00 - 12:30
Room
On Demand 5
Session Icon
On Demand
Lecture Time
11:00 - 11:20

Abstract

Abstract Body

A literature search using PubMed and Google Scholar identified 64 articles assessing suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts and suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic in comparison with the pre-pandemic period in the six WHO regions of the world. Most studies come from high- and middle-income countries. There is a scarcity of data from South America, and no studies from the African and East-Mediterranean Regions. Compared to trends in previous years, suicide rates remained largely unchanged globally or declined in the early phase of the pandemic. However, increased suicide rates were reported among non-white residents and Afro - American groups in the US, as well as among adolescents in China. Japan and India showed a statistically significant increase in suicide rates after an initial decline. Similarly in Peru, after an initial decline, suicide rates increased among men during the course of the pandemic. This is in line with previous findings in the context of natural disasters and other epidemics where a similar increased suicide trend can be expected in the post-pandemic period in other countries. Among adolescents, there were no significant changes in suicide rates during the period of school closure, but an increase has been observed in the period after coming back to schools. The assessment of suicidal thoughts and attempts during the pandemic was mostly conducted through online cross-sectional surveys and showed significant increases, particularly in females and the young. Suicide can be prevented if evidence-based methods that exist are implemented in a systematic way (Wasserman et al. 2020; https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20801).

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