The Suicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory has now received £200,000 in donations from the Mindstep Foundation. The Lab, which is led by Professor Rory O’Connor, has a global reputation for conducting high quality, theoretically-grounded and innovative research to advance the understanding and prevention of suicide. 

The Mindstep Foundation was established by the Davies family in memory of their son Max who died by suicide in 2018 at the age of 22. By funding research into the causes of suicide and working to raise awareness of both the warning signs and consequences of mental health conditions going untreated, the Mindstep Foundation aims to break the stigma attached to admitting, confronting and dealing with mental health issues, especially in young men.

The £200,000 milestone marks an important moment in the Mindstep Foundation’s ongoing support of the Suicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory. This partnership has already advanced our understanding of the factors associated with suicide risk in people who are hospitalised following self-harm, and funded studies focusing on the role of perfectionism among university students and the associated suicide risk. Other research has improved suicide risk assessment and treatment planning by developing materials to help clinicians incorporate knowledge of suicidal behaviour into clinical assessment.

Mindstep Foundation and Suicidal Behaviour Research Lab at UofG dinner

Professor Rory O’Connor said: “We are so grateful to the Mindstep Foundation for their generosity and commitment to the research we are conducting here in Glasgow. It is vital that we improve our understanding of the complex set of reasons and risk factors that lead people to reach a crisis point and feel that their only option is to end their lives by suicide. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Mindstep Foundation in the years ahead."

The Mindstep Foundation said: “In our devastation following Max’s passing, we were determined to try and find the answers that might prevent another family having to experience such a monumental loss to suicide. This £200,000 milestone represents our commitment to advancing suicide prevention research and shedding light on the complexities that surround suicide. We are so proud to support the work of Professor O’Connor and the incredible team at the Suicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory who continue to do groundbreaking work in this field.”

First published: 5 December 2024

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