The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) is pleased to invite you to participate in the 2nd Caribbean Regional Symposium. The overall theme is “Protecting our Youth: Suicide Prevention in the Caribbean Region,” reflecting a mental health priority in this region.

The Symposium is organised by the international team of IASP and will provide participants an insight into various aspects of suicide research and suicide prevention.

The Symposium over three days will contain a series of training workshops, which will address the requirement of effective strategies to:

Prevent youth suicide in the region of the Caribbean Basin;
Reduce pesticide suicides by restricting access to this means of suicide
Train gatekeepers within the health services, media, defence forces and relevant community services on suicide and its prevention.
The aim of the Symposium is to secure community action to prevent suicide, activate governments into a concerted response on suicide prevention and to combat stigma of suicide in the communities.

This Symposium will have a strong emphasis on linking scientific understanding with clinical strategy. The full range of experience of those working in the field will be encompassed, whether in research, clinical practice or community action, from each of the countries and cultures in this region. Significant representatives are committed to participating from Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, Barbados, St Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, and Cayman Islands.

There will be ample opportunity to discuss these findings and how to adapt evidence based research into suicide prevention activities in the Caribbean cultures.

Chairman of the Symposium: Prof. Loraine Barnaby [email protected]

Symposium Coordinator: Wendy Orchard
[email protected]

Venue: the Westin Hotel, Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman

TOPICS FOR REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM

Conference Theme:
“Protecting our youth: Suicide prevention in the Caribbean Region”

PREVENTION

Prevention of suicide and suicidal behaviour
Bullying and suicidal behaviour
Self harm and suicidal behaviour
Child physical and sexual abuse and suicidal behaviour
Factors influencing suicidal behaviour in specific countries
Life events and suicidal behaviour
Media, Culture and Identity
The influence – positive and negative – of Cyberspace and social media on suicidal behaviour
INTERVENTION & POSTVENTION

Epidemiology of suicidal behaviour
Youth suicide
Culture, Religion and Suicidal behaviour
Risk and protective factors in suicidal behaviour
The law and suicidal behaviour (Suicide as criminal behaviour)
Substance use, abuse and suicidal behaviour
Toxicology – its importance in managing suicidal behaviour
Controlling access to means in Pesticide suicide.
Postvention and its importance for survivors
Counselling and psychotherapy as tools for prevention, intervention and postvention
The efficacy of Cognitive Behavioural therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy(DBT), Family therapy, Pet Therapy, Music therapy and other adjunctive management therapies/techniques in prevention, intervention and postvention.
SYMPOSIUM ON PESTICIDES AND SUICIDES (Saturday morning December 5, 2015)

A follow-up of the 1st Regional Conference that was held in Suriname in 2013.

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