The De Leo Fund Award is an award established by the IASP (International Association for Suicide Prevention) which supports and promotes research in science in developing countries. This award is offered to outstanding scholars in recognition of their outstanding role in research on the topic of suicide.

There are 4 categories of awards:

1.      The Stengel Research Award: An award for outstanding research in the field of suicidology.

2.      The Ringel Service Award: An award for distinguished service in the field of suicidology.

3.      The Farberow Award: An award for a person who has contributed significantly in the field of work with survivors of suicide.

4.      De Leo Fund Award: An award for distinguished scholars in recognition of their outstanding research on suicidal behaviours carried out in developing countries.

From a shortlist of seven candidates from around the world, the winner of De Leo Fund Award 2015 is Dr. Joseph Osafo (Ghana), in recognition of his outstanding research on suicidal behaviours carried out in developing countries. The award was received during the 28^th World Congress of the IASP. It was held in Montreal, Canada from 16-20 June, 2015. This award opens up new opportunities of research collaborations for Dr. Joseph Osafo.

Dr. Osafo is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Psychology of the University of Ghana and the national secretary of the Ghana Psychological Association. He holds a B.A degree in Psychology, with English, an MPhil in Clinical Psychology and a PhD in Health Science at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Since 2008 Dr. Osafo has been carrying out research projects on suicidal behavior and has been one of the leaders and supporters in the fight against stigma about suicide in Africa.

He is currently involved in promoting the interest in the topic of suicide among students and graduates and also coordinating efforts to start an official register of deaths by suicide in African hospitals. He collaborates with other researchers and NGOs in the field of mental health to build interest around this theme and develop a national policy on suicide prevention in Ghana.

"Let me just add that I am personally very pleased that a researcher from an African country is the winner of the Prize. I hope he can promote new research projects and initiatives on the prevention of suicide in his country and the entire continent " - Prof. Diego De Leo. 

Dr. Joseph Osafo (center) holding his award with Prof. Diego De Leo (L),  De Leo Fund Award Chairperson  and Prof. Ella Arensman (R ), the President of IASP. 

Dr. Joseph Osafo holding his award.