Professor Keith Hawton is a world-renowned psychiatrist and preeminent authority in suicide prevention research with an international reputation spanning more than four decades. He serves as Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford and Director of the Centre for Suicide Research within the Department of Psychiatry, where he has been a cornerstone of academic leadership since his appointment to professorship in 1996. Additionally, he maintains an active clinical role as Consultant Psychiatrist with Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, demonstrating his commitment to bridging rigorous academic research with practical clinical applications. His dual academic and clinical positions have positioned him uniquely to translate research findings into tangible interventions that save lives across healthcare systems.
With over forty years of dedicated research in suicidal behavior, Professor Hawton has published more than 500 scholarly papers and 15 influential books that have fundamentally shaped evidence-based approaches to suicide prevention worldwide. His epidemiological work using the Oxford Monitoring System for Attempted Suicide has provided comprehensive data that has informed national understanding of self-harm patterns and trends, establishing Oxford as the recognized center for reporting on attempted suicide in the UK. Most significantly, his research on paracetamol overdoses directly influenced UK legislation in 1998 that restricted pack sizes, which subsequent evaluation demonstrated substantially reduced overdose deaths, liver transplants, and large-scale overdoses. His specialized focus on the epidemiology and clinical management of self-harm, particularly among adolescents, has established the gold standard for assessment and treatment protocols internationally.
Professor Hawton's transformative impact on suicide prevention has been recognized with numerous prestigious honors including a CBE for services to suicide prevention awarded in 2020 and the Morselli Medal from the International Association of Suicide Research. As a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and National Institute for Health Research Senior Investigator, he has developed critical workshops and support resources for clinicians while helping Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust establish its comprehensive suicide prevention strategy. His leadership extends through collaborations with Nurse Consultant Karen Lascelles to develop key support resources for clinicians and those impacted by patient deaths, setting a standard for regional suicide prevention efforts. Professor Hawton continues to champion the integration of accurate epidemiological data, evidence-based treatments, and effective prevention measures to address self-harm and suicide, particularly among vulnerable youth populations, ensuring Oxford remains at the forefront of this critical public health challenge.
