Conference Agenda

After introducing the issue of suicide among Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), refugees, and asylum seekers, the presenter will provide an overview of the suicide prevention guidelines (formerly known as suicide first aid guidelines), including findings from two pilot online gatekeepers’ trainings based on guidelines developed for people from immigrant and refugee backgrounds. These guidelines were developed through a structured consultative process, supported by the Delphi consensus method, which involved key suicide prevention and transcultural mental health professionals, as well as experts with lived and living experience. Through this process, culturally relevant warning signs and first‑aid actions were identified and incorporated into the guidelines, together with accompanying infographics and training videos used in the trainings.

This presentation aims to prioritise suicide and suicide prevention among refugee populations within research and intervention agendas. It also seeks to stimulate debate on whether, and to what extent, the widely used Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) approach is adequate for suicide prevention. The presentation will further explore the potential value of complementing MHPSS and Psychological First Aid approaches with suicide prevention guidelines specifically developed for forced migrants and displaced populations, and will reflect on future directions for community‑based suicide prevention strategies -such as gatekeeper training- within humanitarian contexts.