World Suicide Prevention Day: St Mary’s academic helps workplaces start the conversation about mental health

As World Suicide Prevention Day takes place on 10 September, a St Mary’s University academic is helping to develop new approaches to improving mental and physical health in workplaces across 11 countries.

Dr Arlinda Cerga Pashoja, Associate Professor in Psychology and Director of the Research Centre for Applied Health and Wellbeing at St Mary’s University, is the UK Principal Investigator of the PROSPERH project, which is developing evidence-based digital resources to help organisations create healthier and more supportive working environments.

The project’s work comes as this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day encourages people to “Start the Conversation” about suicide. The campaign highlights the importance of reducing stigma, encouraging open dialogue and creating environments where people feel able to seek support when they need it.

Alongside her work on PROSPERH, Dr Cerga Pashoja has contributed to Albania’s Suicide Prevention Programme 2025–2030. The programme provides a national framework for suicide prevention and highlights the need for coordinated action across health services, communities, education, workplaces and public communication.

Dr Cerga Pashoja is also working with Mentbest on initiatives promoting mental-health awareness and responsible public communication, including the recent launch of national media awards in Albanian that recognise journalism and media content helping to reduce stigma and support informed conversations about mental health.

"World Suicide Prevention Day is an important reminder that talking openly and responsibly about suicide can save lives,” said Dr Arlinda Cerga Pashoja. “Contributing to Albania’s Suicide Prevention Programme has reinforced the importance of coordinated action across policy, services, communities and public communication. Through PROSPERH, we are bringing these principles into workplaces by developing practical, evidence-based digital resources that can help organisations better support the health and wellbeing of their employees."

From November 2026, PROSPERH will begin an international intervention and research project involving workplaces across 11 countries. The research will evaluate digital resources designed to help employees and organisations improve workplace health and wellbeing.

Workplaces in the healthcare and construction sectors, as well as organisations employing remote, desk-based, teleworking or ICT-based mobile workers, are being invited to take part.

The trial will involve organisations across Ireland, Portugal, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Spain, Albania, Australia, Kosovo and Turkey.