Announcements
26 September 2025
Meet Us at the IASSIDD 5th Asia–Pacific Congress, 14–17 October 2025, Singapore, Singapore
25 September 2025
Meet Us at the 26th National Academic Conference of Psychology, 31 October–2 November 2025, Jinan, China
12 September 2025
Meet Us at the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) 2025 Annual Meeting, 20–25 October 2025, Chicago, IL, USA
8 September 2025
World Suicide Prevention Day—“Changing the Narrative on Suicide”, 10 September 2025
World Suicide Prevention Day was established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO). Each year, 10 September aims to focus attention on the issue of suicide, reduce stigma, and raise awareness among the public, promoting a single message: suicides are preventable.
The triennial theme for World Suicide Prevention Day for 2024-2026 is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide”. This theme aims to raise awareness about the importance of reducing stigma and encouraging open conversations to prevent suicides. Changing the narrative on suicide is about transforming how we perceive this complex issue, shifting from a culture of silence and stigma to one of openness, understanding, and support.
This theme also emphasizes the need to prioritize suicide prevention and mental health in policy-making, calling for government action. Changing the narrative requires advocating for policies that prioritize mental health, increase access to care, and provide support to those in need.
To commemorate this day, we invite you to explore a curation of insightful articles, journals, and Special Issues across various fields, including social sciences, behavioral sciences, health care systems, and adolescent development. By sharing these findings, we hope to shift away from silence and stigma towards openness, empathy, and action, ensure those who are struggling feel heard, supported, and connected.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
“Suicide Prevention Measures at High-Risk Locations: A Goal-Directed Motivation Perspective”
by Laura Joyner, Jay-Marie Mackenzie, Andy Willis, Penny Phillips, Bethany Cliffe, Ian Marsh, Elizabeth Pettersen, Keith Hawton and Lisa Marzano
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(8), 1009; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15081009
“The Role of Gut Microbiota in Suicidality: Mechanisms, Evidence, and Future Directions”
by Valentina Baldini, Martina Gnazzo, Giulia Santangelo, Giorgia Varallo, Diana De Ronchi and Marco Carotenuto
Psychiatry Int. 2025, 6(3), 84; https://doi.org/10.3390/psychiatryint6030084
“Suicidal Ideation in U.S. Adolescents Exposed to Neighborhood Violence”
by Silviya Nikolova, Eusebius Small and Benjamin Sesay
Adolescents 2025, 5(3), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/adolescents5030031
“Problematic Pornography Use, Mental Health, and Suicidality among Young Adults”
by Mujde Altin, Diego De Leo, Noemi Tribbia, Lucia Ronconi and Sabrina Cipolletta
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(9), 1228; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091228
“Hospitalizations for Suicidal Events: Reiteration Risk—The Experience in the Veneto Region, Italy”
by Silvia Cocchio, Giulia Tremolada, Nicola Cogo, Claudia Cozzolino, Mario Saia, Michele Tonon, Francesca Russo, Patrizia Furlan, Marco Fonzo and Vincenzo Baldo
Psychiatry Int. 2024, 5(3), 434-446; https://doi.org/10.3390/psychiatryint5030030
“The Positive and Negative Suicidal Ideation Inventory among Portuguese Adolescents: Factor Structure and Gender Invariance”
by Marta Brás, Ana Cunha, João Antunes and Cláudia Carmo
Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2024, 14(4), 1002-1011; https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe14040065
“Teen Perspectives on Suicides and Deaths in an Affluent Community: Perfectionism, Protection, and Exclusion”
by Abigail Peterson and Carolyn Smith-Morris
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(4), 456; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21040456
“Making Sense of Critical Suicide Studies: Metaphors, Tensions, and Futurities”
by Luiza Cesar Riani Costa and Jennifer White
Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(4), 183; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13040183
“The Mediating Effect of Loneliness on the Relationship between Bullying Victimization and Suicidal Behavior among Adolescents in Ghana”
by Ebenezer Duah
Youth 2024, 4(1), 231-243; https://doi.org/10.3390/youth4010016
“Prevalence of Suicidal Ideation among Pregnant Women in Gran Canaria”
by María del Amor Santana-González, María Granada Vázquez-Núñez, Mar Miranda-Sánchez, Héctor González-de la Torre, Jesús María González-Martín, Julia Jeppesen-Gutiérrez and Iraya Monagas-Agrelo
Women 2024, 4(1), 1-12; https://doi.org/10.3390/women4010001
“Trends in Suicidal Mortality and Motives among Working-Ages Individuals in Japan during 2007–2022”
by Ryusuke Matsumoto, Eishi Motomura, Toshiaki Onitsuka and Motohiro Okada
Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2023, 13(12), 2795-2810; https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe13120193
“Impacts of Complete Unemployment Rates Disaggregated by Reason and Duration on Suicide Mortality from 2009–2022 in Japan”
by Ryusuke Matsumoto, Eishi Motomura and Motohiro Okada
Healthcare 2023, 11(20), 2806; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11202806
“Vulnerability to Suicide Ideation: Comparative Study between Adolescents with and without Psychosocial Risk”
by Marta Brás, Patrícia Elias, Francisca Ferreira Cunha, Cátia Martins, Cristina Nunes and Cláudia Carmo
Healthcare 2023, 11(19), 2663; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11192663
| “Suicidal Behaviors: Prevention, Intervention and Postvention” Guest Editors: Dr. Irene Caro-Cañizares, Dr. María Cantero-García and Dr. Eva Izquierdo-Sotorrío Submission deadline: 30 September 2025 |
“Advanced Studies on Psychological Resilience to Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors: Current Trends and Future Directions” Guest Editor: Dr. Kamelia Harris Submission deadline: 31 December 2025 |
 |
 |
| “Suicide and Self-Injury: Prevention, Identification, and Patient Care” Guest Editor: Dr. Markus Stingl Submission deadline: 31 March 2026 |
“Research on Suicide Assessment, Prevention and Management” Guest Editor: Dr. Masahito Fushimi Submission deadline: 31 May 2026 |
 |
 |
3 September 2025
Join Us at the MDPI at the University of Toronto Career Fair, 23 September 2025, Toronto, ON, Canada
3 September 2025
Social Sciences | Interview with Editorial Board Member—Prof. Dr. Steve Jackson
Professor Dr. Steve Jackson specialises in the socio-cultural analysis of sport. He is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario (Canada) and the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (USA). In addition to his post at Otago, Steve has served as a Visiting Professor at universities in Brazil, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Finland, Japan, South Africa, and Taiwan. Professionally, he is an ex-President of the International Sociology of Sport Association (ISSA) and Research Committee 27 of the International Sociology Association (ISA), 2008–2015. He is a Research Fellow of the North American Society of the Sociology of Sport (NASSS) and an Honorary Member of the International Sociology of Sport Association (ISSA).
Currently the Co-Director of the New Zealand Centre for Sport Policy and Politics, Steve is also a Corresponding Editor for the International Review for the Sociology of Sport and has served on the following editorial boards: Communication and Sport, Sociology of Sport Journal, Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise, International Journal of Sport Marketing and Management, Revista (Journal of the Latin American Association for the Sociocultural Study of Sport), and the Asia Pacific Journal of Sport and Social Science, and Social Sciences.
The following is a short interview with Prof. Dr. Steve Jackson:
1. Could you share what initially drew you to your research field, and how your academic journey has evolved?
I originally studied physical education along with sociology and social psychology at University. I planned to be a teacher, but in my last year of study, a professor asked me if I would be interested in getting a Master’s degree. I had no idea what a Master’s was, but decided to learn more and ultimately went on to complete a Master’s and PhD at the University of Illinois (USA). While studying at the University of Illinois, I had a chance to teach at the University of British Columbia (Canada), and this, in turn, enabled me to travel before I returned to start a PhD.
2. As Guest Editor of the Special Issue “The Contested Terrain of Sport: Sociological, Political and Policy Perspectives” in Social Sciences, what was the most meaningful insight or challenge you encountered during the process?
It was a great experience to have an idea for a Special Issue and then to see how it all unfolded. The biggest challenge is recruiting good manuscripts, even when the theme of our Special Issue was relevant to a lot of scholars in our field. The journal team did a great job of helping to contact potential authors, and this helped develop a solid pool of contributors.
3. How do you see the role of open access journals like Social Sciences?
In some ways, the journal fills a gap for authors who may not have the opportunity to publish in other mainstream journals. These types of journals often help support Special Issues that may not be possible otherwise or would take a long time to obtain approval from some of the main journals.
4. What advice would you give to early career researchers hoping to develop an impactful scholarly profile or collaborate internationally?
In philosophical terms, I would suggest “do what you love and love what you do”, but beyond that, I think I would encourage young scholars to try and understand the wider significance of their research. While most of our research often focuses on very narrow and specific topics, it is important to understand that this work is generally part of a much wider network of research that, collectively, helps us understand key issues and problems in the world. In my field, I would encourage young scholars to embrace the wisdom of C. Wright Mills and use our sociological imagination to link our private experiences and personal problems with wider social structures and public issues. This approach helps all of us recognise that we are not alone and that transformational social change comes through acting collectively.
5. Outside of academic work, are there any personal interests or practices that contribute to your perspective as a social scientist?
I love to travel and have been very fortunate that my work enables this. Experiencing other countries and cultures is extremely valuable for understanding how different but also how similar we are. It provides valuable insights into some of the shared problems we all face, and this might help us to think of strategies to find solutions. One other important part of my job is teaching. Teaching is an opportunity to share knowledge, but it is also a chance to gain knowledge. Students increasingly come from more diverse backgrounds, and they all have knowledge and experiences to share. Working with highly motivated postgraduate students who are conducting exciting new research is also highly rewarding and ensures that Professors continue to learn.
Related Special Issue:
“The Contested Terrain of Sport: Sociological, Political and Policy Perspectives”
Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Steve James Jackson and Prof. Dr. Michael P. Sam
Highlights:
1. The volume offers a critical examination of sport as a dynamic field of conflict and negotiation, where diverse actors with competing resources, ideologies, and beliefs strive for influence and legitimacy—illustrated through cases such as breakdancing’s Olympic inclusion and the recognition of e-sports.
2. Beyond mere competition, the anthology explores sport’s strategic connections to major societal sectors such as health, education, diplomacy, and security. It sheds light on its dual role as both a catalyst for peace and development and an instrument for sportswashing or a target for terrorism.
3. Featuring research across varied contexts, disciplines, and frameworks, the collection addresses pressing issues from mega-events and integrity to wellbeing and inclusion, offering a multifaceted perspective on why sport remains perennially contentious and politically significant.
1 September 2025
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO’s Letter #26 – CUJS, Head of Ethics, Open Peer Review, AIS 2025, Reviewer Recognition
Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.
In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.
Opening Thoughts
Society of China University Journals (CUJS) visit to MDPI Basel
In August, we had the pleasure of welcoming a delegation from the Society of China University Journals (CUJS) to our Basel headquarters. The visit was part of CUJS’s broader European tour, which included meetings with several major publishing organizations.
Purpose of the visit
The delegation’s stop in Basel involved an introductory meeting and knowledge-sharing with a view to identifying potential collaboration opportunities with MDPI. The CUJS team shared an overview of the Chinese scientific publishing landscape, including recent policy developments, and gave us insights into the journals and services they operate across China’s academic institutions.
MDPI presentations
We used the opportunity to introduce CUJS to MDPI’s mission, structure, and recent achievements. I presented on the latest developments at MDPI and our role in supporting global open access, addressing many follow-up questions from the delegation. Warm thanks are due to the following colleagues for their contributions to the session:
- Liliane Auwerter (Conference Organizer, Scientific Officer and Sustainability Specialist) shared an overview of our editorial process, including the quality indicators we use to track peer-review performance.
- Renato Merki (Publication Ethics Assistant) presented on behalf of our Research Integrity and Ethics team, emphasizing our commitment to responsible publishing.
- Silvano Bonfatti (Product Manager) introduced the JAMS platform, highlighting how it supports efficient journal management for editors and publishers alike.
- Aimar Xiong (Publisher, Section Managing Editor) and Giuliano Braccini (Office Manager) facilitated the meeting, offering clarity in response to specific questions, building the relationship during and beyond the meeting itself.
“Building relationships with organizations such as CUJS allows us to increase our visibility and reputation”
Why is this important?
China is one of the world’s largest producers of scientific research, with its universities and research institutes playing a key role in global scholarly publishing. Building strong relationships with influential organizations such as CUJS allows us to increase our visibility and reputation vis-à-vis the Chinese academic community, share best practices, learn from differing publishing models, and explore collaborations that have the potential to enhance the quality, reach, and diversity of our journals.
Looking ahead
It was a productive and friendly exchange that reflected our shared commitment to advancing scholarly communication and improving journal publishing practices. We value these visits, which allow us to create collaborations with stakeholders in the global academic community.
Our Basel office is a hub for hosting international delegations, partners, and collaborators. We look forward to creating more global connections that support our mission.
Impactful Research
Appointment of Dr. Tim Tait-Jamieson as Head of Publication Ethics
As part of our ongoing commitment to research integrity and publishing excellence, I am delighted to announce that we have appointed Dr. Tim Tait-Jamieson as Head of Publication Ethics.
In this role, Tim will lead the development of our ethics strategy and oversee the continued growth of the Publication Ethics Department, which is based across our offices in Basel, Manchester, Belgrade/Novi Sad, and Cluj. Guided by the principles of effective prevention and efficient resolution, the department plays an essential role in ensuring the highest standards of integrity throughout our editorial processes.
Department focus
Working closely with internal teams and external partners, the Publication Ethics Department focuses on refining our policies, aligning our operations with international best practices, and addressing complex cases with fairness and transparency. This work is critical in supporting our editors, reviewers, and authors, reinforcing MDPI’s contribution to the global dialogue on research integrity.
“Research integrity is something to which we all contribute through our daily work at MDPI”
About Tim
Tim joined MDPI in 2021 and has held several roles within the Publication Ethics Department, most recently serving as Research Integrity Lead. Based in our Basel office, he brings a strong academic background, with a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, and a proven track record of leadership in research integrity.
Research integrity is something to which we all contribute through our daily work at MDPI. I look forward to Tim’s leadership as we continue investing in the people, processes, and partnerships that uphold the trust and credibility of scholarly publishing.
Read more:
Inside MDPI
How and why MDPI offers Open Peer Review
At MDPI, we are committed to advancing openness and transparency in scholarly publishing. One area where we’ve taken a leadership role is peer review. Since 2014, MDPI has offered authors the option of open peer review, giving them the opportunity to publish reviewer comments alongside their papers. Each year, more authors are choosing this path, helping to build trust in the editorial process and provide valuable context for the research we publish.
Jack McKenna (Senior Content Specialist, MDPI) recently wrote an informative piece looking at the impact and importance of open peer review at MDPI. He highlights how this approach not only benefits readers but also gives well-deserved recognition to our reviewers, who generously dedicate their time and expertise to the academic community.
I encourage you to read this blogpost to see how MDPI is helping set standards for transparency in scholarly publishing.
Coming Together for Science
Recap of MDPI’s AIS 2025 Conference in Kuala Lumpur
Entering the month of August, we held The 2nd International Conference on AI Sensors and Transducers (AIS 2025) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“AIS is quickly becoming a premier event in the field”
The second edition of AIS brought together 335 attendees from across Asia and beyond, including participants from China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia. The event, chaired by Prof. Dr. Toshihiro Itoh (University of Tokyo), Prof. Dr. Sang-Woo Kim (Yonsei University), and Prof. Dr. Chengkuo Lee (National University of Singapore), continues to grow in reputation and has become an important platform for researchers and students to present their work, exchange ideas, and build international collaborations.
AIS is quickly becoming a premier event in the field, with participants highlighting its quality of service, its expanding academic network, and the value it delivers in the context of tightening research budgets in the region.
It was also excellent to see our new MDPI journal AI Sensors, which originated from a conference topic, host a successful launch party at the event.
Highlights from participant feedback:
- Southeast University (China) sent a student delegation and considers AIS a regular fixture for Ph.D. students in need of international conference experience.
- CAS Aerospace Information Research Institute sent a 10-member delegation and plans to further promote AIS internally.
- Japanese researchers regard AIS as a must-attend event, placing it on a par with IEEE conferences and citing the benefits of networking and exchange.
- Korean academics praised the organization and noted improved perceptions of MDPI among their institutions, viewing AIS as a strategic opportunity to deepen engagement in the region.
Award winners
We recognized the recipients of the Best Presentation, Best Scientist, Best Poster, and Best Student Paper awards, whose contributions set a standard for academic excellence. The full award announcement is available here.
Looking ahead
The 3rd International Conference on AI Sensors and Transducers will be held from 5 to10 August 2026 in Jeju, Korea. The General Chairs will be Prof. Inkyu Park (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), Prof. Zhou Li (Tsinghua University), Prof. Xinge Yu (City University of Hong Kong), and Prof. Chengkuo Lee (National University of Singapore). We look forward to bringing together innovators, researchers and experts who are shaping the future at the intersection of sensors, sensing technology, transducers and artificial intelligence.
Thank you
Our conference team managed this event with great agility and professionalism and are already planning improvements to make the conference even more accessible. Special thanks to the National University of Singapore for their support, and to our entire conference team and collaborators for their dedication.
AIS is gaining momentum, and we look forward to supporting its role as a bridge between MDPI and the global academic community.
“Our conference team managed this event with great agility and professionalism”
Closing Thoughts
Recognizing our outstanding reviewers
As we close this edition of the newsletter, I would like to spotlight MDPI’s 2024 Outstanding Reviewer Awards, which showcase a group of winners whose contributions often go unseen but are essential to the integrity of scholarly publishing: our reviewers.
In 2024, more than 215,000 reviewers dedicated their time and expertise to MDPI journals. From this community, we are proud to recognize 356 recipients of the Outstanding Reviewer Awards, who went above and beyond by providing timely, thorough and constructive feedback.
These awards are not only a token of our appreciation but also a reflection of the values we stand for: rigor, fairness and collaboration in advancing science.
To explore the full list of awardees across disciplines, from life sciences to the humanities, please visit the following pages:
- Biology and Life Sciences
- Business and Economics
- Chemistry and Materials Science
- Computer Science and Mathematics
- Engineering
- Environmental and Earth Sciences
- Medicine and Pharmacology
- Physical Sciences
- Public Health and Healthcare
- Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities
About MDPI Awards
To recognize the academic community, MDPI journals regularly offer various awards to researchers in specific fields. Serving as a source of recognition and inspiration, these awards help increase the influence of scholars who have been credited with outstanding achievements and are making a significant contribution to the advancement of their respective fields.
To explore more opening Outstanding Reviewer Awards, please click here.
To all our reviewers: thank you for being the foundation of trust that makes open access publishing possible!
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG
13 August 2025
MDPI Books | Empowering Voices in the Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities (SSAH)
4 August 2025
Meet Us at the Work, Employment and Society Conference 2025, 8–10 September 2025, Manchester, UK
1 August 2025
Social Sciences | Interview with Editorial Board Member Prof. Emerita Patricia O’Brien
|
|
From 2009 to 2020, Prof. Emerita Patricia O’Brien was the Executive Director of the Centre for Disability Studies, affiliated with the University of Sydney, Australia. Prior to this role, she held academic appointments at Trinity College, Dublin, as the Director of the National Institute for Intellectual Disability, and the University of Auckland as Dean of Postgraduate Studies and Research. She now holds a Professor Emerita title from the Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney. |
Prof. O’Brien’s current research interests and publications cover individual supported living for people with high and complex needs, choice and control through individualized funding packages, diversity of housing types, advocacy, inclusive education, community participation, service design, and support. She is known for leading inclusive research initiatives, where people with intellectual disabilities are involved as co-researchers. Recently, Prof. O’Brien edited two Special Issues on inclusive research for Social Sciences (ISSN: 2076-0760), exploring how well-traveled the “inclusive research” road is. As a strong advocate for inclusive education within university settings, she initiated the uni 2 beyond program at the University of Sydney, where students with intellectual disabilities can audit courses. Three books that promote the need for value-based inclusion, both within education and communities, have been co-edited by Patricia. She is a Fellow of the Australasian Society of Intellectual Disability (FASID) and a member of several boards, such as Achieve Australia, The Achieve Foundation, and Good Directions.
In 2023, Patricia was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to people with disability through research and education.
The following is an interview with Professor Emerita Patricia O’Brien:
Prof. Emerita Patricia O’Brien’s related Special Issues:
