Andriessen4 6 Oct2015

Dr Karl Andriessen

PhD, MSuicidology, BSW

Dr Karl Andriessen is a well-known researcher in the field of suicide bereavement and prevention, and worked in Belgium, Australia, and internationally. He is particularly interested in integrating findings from research and practice, as both perspectives are needed in understanding what works. His involvement is strongly rooted in clinical practice, starting 30 years ago as a Social Worker in youth/family counselling, and telephone crisis lines, followed by leading positions in suicide prevention, bereavement, helplines, and community mental health and policy.

He holds a MSuicidology from Griffith University (2006), and obtained his PhD (2018) from the UNSW School of Psychiatry, Sydney, on a study investigating the grief, mental health, and help-seeking of adolescents bereaved by suicide and other causes. He received several (inter-)national awards, and served as Chair of the IASP Special Interest Group on Suicide Bereavement, 2002-2015.

Karl has published widely, and is the principal editor of “Postvention in action”, the world first “International handbook of suicide bereavement support” (Hogrefe, 2017). He is an advisor to several projects on mental health, suicide prevention and bereavement.

Currently, he is a NHMRC Early Career Fellow in the Centre for Mental Health, School of Population and Global Health, the University of Melbourne.

Research areas:
  • Adults
  • Children or young people
  • Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people
  • Target groups (CALD, LGBTI, Rural/remote, Lived experience)
  • Suicidal behaviour(suicidal ideation, suicidal risk, suicide attempt)
  • Mental health, mental ill health
Available for:
  • Research opportunities
  • Funding
  • Innovative approaches to suicide prevention
  • Connecting with post-graduate candidates
  • Collaboration with Australian suicide prevention services, programs and resources
Andriessen4 6 Oct2015
Dr Karl Andriessen

Primary Research Focus:
Suicide Postvention

Works with:
Centre for Mental Health, School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne