Annual Meeting of the Educational Institutions Network:
Suicide Studies

Over 120 participants from the health and social services sectors came together in Ankara on September 23-24 for the Annual Meeting of the Educational Institutions Network, aimed at strengthening inter-institutional cooperation in suicide prevention efforts.

 

The meeting was organized within the framework of the Social Inclusion Project for Individuals with Mental Disabilities, jointly funded by the European Union and the World Health Organization (WHO) and implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Family and Social Services.

 

Suicide prevention requires that individuals receive the support they need in a timely manner and that there are clear referral pathways between services. Participants evaluated existing practices. Six working groups discussed steps that could be taken to improve intervention and follow-up processes in emergency departments, establish a suicide prevention hotline, and strengthen coordination at the provincial level.

 

The groups also assessed the diverse needs of young people, elderly individuals in institutional care, and people with disabilities. Discussions focused on referring individuals to appropriate services and maintaining follow-up between institutions.

 

On the final day of the meeting, working groups presented their recommendations. Participants also planned suicide prevention activities for health and social service workers. This included addressing factors such as occupational stress and exposure to secondary trauma.

 

The meeting enabled stakeholders to develop recommendations for more coordinated prevention efforts and identify ongoing work across sectors.