A GLASGOW University academic has been elected to a leading world role in suicide prevention

A GLASGOW University academic has been elected to a leading world role in suicide prevention

Professor Rory O'Connor from the university's Institute of Health and Wellbeing was voted President of the International Academy of Suicide Research.

It is the first time someone from the UK has held the two-year post.

Prof O'Connor leads the university's Suicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory which carries out research and promotes collaboration between suicide and self-harm researchers and experts working in the social, psychological and biomedical sciences.

It is estimated that more people die by suicide each year worldwide than by murder and war combined but Prof O'Connor said: "Compared to other major causes of death such as stroke, research into suicide is chronically under-funded."