Edwin S. Shneidman establishes the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) in 1968
AAS was founded by clinical psychologist Edwin S. Shneidman, PhD, in 1968. After co-directing the Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Center (LASPC) since 1958, Dr. Shneidman was appointed co-director of The Center for Suicide Prevention at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in Bethesda, MD. There he had the opportunity to closely observe the limited available knowledge-base regarding suicide.
Consequently, under the sponsorship of the NIMH, he organized a meeting of several world-renowned scholars in Chicago, determined the need for and fathered a national organization devoted to research, education, and practice in “suicidology,” and advancing suicide prevention.
With his years of leadership directing a suicide prevention center, Shneidman was quick to recognize a contemporaneous and rapid expansion of the crisis center/hotline movement across the United States.
The newly established AAS embraced these centers as sources of research information on suicidal clients. Soon, the relationship between AAS and these centers was symbolic.
AAS became the central clearinghouse for support and the hub of a many-spoked wheel, networking these centers to common needs, training materials, and goals.
Certification & Training
It was a result of this marriage of research and crisis counseling that led AAS to develop a set of standards and criteria for certification of crisis centers throughout the United States. Since certifying its first center in 1976, AAS now has over 120 centers meeting stringent standards of services and training.
In 1989, AAS began a certification program for individual crisis workers as well. By the end of 2015, over 1,000 individuals had passed a rigorous examination of their knowledge and application of crisis theory to their work clients. AAS continues to take a leadership position in the crisis center and suicide prevention movement.
AAS Becomes a Membership Organization
In addition to crisis center staff and volunteers, AAS membership includes researchers, mental health clinicians, public health specialists, school districts, survivors of suicide loss, attempt survivors, and students.
From a small group of leaders who met in Chicago in 1968, AAS now boasts a membership of more than 1200 individuals and over 150 organizations.
AAS produces a referral directory of over 600 suicide prevention and crisis centers nationwide and a directory of almost 300 survivor support groups.
The Work of AAS
Thousands of calls are received annually in the AAS Central Office from the public and the media regarding referrals and informational needs. Public education and information have become core functions of AAS.
To that end, AAS has produced a variety of fact sheets, brochures, statistical reports, books, and resources offered to the public and professional communities.
AAS has produced major conferences of research presentations and panels, training workshops, and interactive discussions annually since its inaugural meeting. Major papers from this meeting often appear in addition to independently submitting research and case studies, in the Association’s peer-reviewed journal Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior.
AAS also sponsors a second conference each year, Healing After Suicide Loss, which brings together professionals and survivors to share information specific to working through suicide bereavement.
AAS Today
American Association of Suicidology (AAS) is the nation’s largest and oldest suicide prevention membership organization and charitable 501(c)3. As a membership-based organization that aims to support its members in their knowledge and best practices in the field. In addition to offering insight into the latest trends, issues, and opportunities of our diverse members. People of all ages, races, genders, ethnicities, and more are impacted by suicide every day. Our goal is not to eradicate suicide, but through impact, one by one, the lives of those who are or may yet be suicidal.
The principal journal for suicide studies, Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, is published six times per year by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of AAS which offers the latest research, theories, and intervention approaches for suicide and life-threatening behaviors. The journal publishes scientific research on suicidal and other life-threatening behaviors, including research from biological, psychological, and sociological approaches.
AAS continues to be a world-leader in the development, implementation, and facilitation of professional accreditation, certification, and training programs. An active program of externally supported research and prevention programming has begun and complements AAS’s ongoing investment in setting standards for and upgrading the skills and understandings of those who work with at-risk individuals. AAS is a nationally-recognized leader in developing and implementing training and accreditation programs. Our programs include Recognizing and Responding to Suicide Risk, Crisis Center Accreditation, Individual Crisis Specialist Certification, Psychological Autopsy Certification, College and University Suicide Prevention Accreditation, and many more.
Our Annual Conference every Spring welcomes members and non-members alike who are invested in advancing the mission of AAS through educational pre-conferences, interactive poster sessions, panels of subject matter experts and lived experience of suicide, keynotes with today’s thought leaders, and more. The conference welcomes people of all disciplines with shared interest in suicidology, including but not limited to psychologists, psychiatrists, researchers, physicians, social workers, educators, public health professionals, attempt survivors and those with lived experience, crisis service professionals and volunteers.