NI Connections

Rory O’Connor, a native of Derry, is Professor of Health Psychology at the University of Glasgow where he directs the Suicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory, one of the leading suicide research groups internationally.

He is a world leader on suicide research and prevention and has been working in the field for 25 years, beginning with his PhD on suicide and self-harm at Queen’s University of Belfast.

Rory is the current President of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and past President of the International Academy of Suicide Research – the only person from the UK and the 2nd person globally to hold both offices.

He has published extensively in the field of suicide and self-harm and has advised on and contributed to six BBC documentaries on suicide, including the BAFTA-nominated Life After Suicide with Angela Samata, Suicide and Me with the rapper Professor Green and Our Silent Emergency with the DJ Roman Kemp.