Professor Hawton, Director of the Centre for Suicide Prevention, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford and Consultant Psychiatrist, has been awarded a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2020 for services to Suicide Prevention.
I am delighted that my work has been recognised in this way. I’d like to thank the many members of my research team who over the years have worked so hard to generate our contributions in the field of suicide and self-harm. Having been involved with the Department for most of my working life I’d also like to thank the many colleagues who have been mentors, advisers and good friends during this time. Particular thanks go to the support staff who have made things work. I hope that Oxford psychiatry will long remain at the forefront of efforts to prevent suicide and self-harm and to help those who are feeling suicidal in the face of adversity.
Professor John Geddes, Head of Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford.
Keith has provided amazing international leadership in suicide research for over 40 years – and his CBE is incredibly well deserved.
Important work in the research of Suicide and Self-harm
- Professor Hawton's work in the 1990s led to changes in UK legislation to restrict pack sizes of paracetamol resulting in over a 30% reduction in the number of deaths from paracetamol poisoning.
- More recently his research on the use of co-proxamol for self-poisoning resulted in the withdrawal of this highly toxic drug in the UK and throughout the EU, with the saving of many lives.
- In 2003 Professor Hawton acted as 'expert Witness' to Lord Hutton's Inquiry into the death of the British Weapons Inspector David Kelly.
- The Centre for Suicide Research under the directorship of Professor Hawton has produced many guides, for example, Young people who self-harm: A guide for school staff and Coping with self-harm: A guide for parents and carers. He and his team have also contributed to guidance documents published by the Government, for example, Suicide prevention: identifying and responding to suicide clusters.
- Professor Hawton is one of forty-two international researchers who have formed the International COVID-19 Suicide Prevention Research Collaboration in response to the pandemic.
- Most recently Professor Hawton and his team at the Centre for Suicide Research have released a publication, If a patient dies by suicide: A Resource for Psychiatrists, produced to support psychiatrists at all stages of their career.
To read more about the Centre for Suicide Prevention in Oxford.
To read more about Professor Hawton's role at the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.