Call for Abstracts
We invite you to submit your proposals for the 21st European Symposium on Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour (ESSSB21). With rethinking as our theme, we encourage fresh perspectives on how we understand and respond to suicide. While contributions aligned with this theme are especially welcome, all work related to suicide research can be submitted, as there are no predefined topics.
We invite contributions from across disciplines: not only psychology, psychiatry, and public health, but also sociology, philosophy, policy studies, anthropology, and other fields.
Submission Types:
- Symposium
- Oral presentation
- Flash talk
- Poster
- Workshop
Deadlines:
- Deadline for symposium and workshop proposals: December 7, 2025
- Notification of acceptance for symposium and workshop proposals: January 12, 2026
- Deadline for oral abstracts: J
anuary 18, 2026. Extended until January 26,2026.
Deadline for late-breaking posters and flash talks: March 30, 2026. - Notification of acceptance for individual and poster proposals: March 16, 2026
- Presenters’ registration: May 4, 2026
A symposium allows participants to examine research issues, problems, or topics from various perspectives.
- Each symposium must include a minimum of 4 presentations.
- We encourage diversity – presentations should ideally represent different countries, institutions, or perspectives.
- Abstract length: up to 100 words for the general symposium description and up to 300 words for each individual presentation.
- Each symposium should have one chairperson, 4-5 presenters, and a total duration of 60 minutes.
Workshops provide an interactive space for skill-building or in-depth exploration of a specific topic.
- Duration: half-day pre-conference (26 August, 9:00-14:00).
- Abstract length: up to 500 words.
- Only a very limited number of workshops (5-10) will be selected.
Oral presentations provide an opportunity to share research findings or theoretical perspectives.
- Each oral session lasts 90 minutes and includes 6 presentations.
- Each presenter has 15 minutes in total, including time for questions and discussion.
- Abstract length: up to 300 words.
- Titles must not exceed 30 words.
- Research-based abstracts should include the following sections:
- Introduction
- Methods
- Results
- Conclusions
- Theoretical presentations may follow a free-text format without a fixed structure.
Flash talks are short, focused presentations aimed primarily at Early Career Scholars (undergraduates, master’s students, PhD students, post-docs), but all participants are welcome to apply.
- Each flash talk session lasts 60 minutes and is led by a chairperson.
- Each presenter has 5 minutes.
- Sessions include a short Q&A.
- Abstract length: up to 100 words.
Poster sessions provide a visual way to present your research and discuss findings with conference participants.
- Abstract length: up to 300 words.
- Titles must not exceed 30 words.
- Poster size: maximum A1 (594 × 841 mm), vertical layout.
- Posters are displayed as printouts.
- Presenting authors should be available throughout the session.
- If you agree during submission, your poster will be considered for the Best Poster Award in cooperation with IASP.
General Rules:
- Each individual may submit up to two abstracts as a first author.
- All proposals must be made via the online form on Conftool platform and not by email.
- There are no predefined topics, therefore each abstract must include at least 3 keywords.
- On submission of the proposal, the authors will receive an automated email confirming receipt. If you do not receive this email, please check your spam folder.
- After submission, you can revise or update your abstract until the deadline for the selected submission type. To make any changes, please log in to the Conftool system.
- Once the abstract is accepted, the presenting author must register for the event and deliver the presentation in person at the conference. There will be no option for online presentations.
Abstract Review:
- All submitted abstracts undergo a double-blind peer review process conducted by members of the Scientific Committee.
- Each abstract is evaluated based on its scientific quality, relevance to the conference topics, methodological rigor, and clarity of presentation.
- Only abstracts that meet the required criteria will be accepted for presentation at ESSSB21.
Presenting Authors Registration:
- Presenters authors must register until May 4, 2026, otherwise their names will not be included in the scientific program.
- Co-authors are welcome to attend the conference, though their participation is optional.