American Association of Suicidology Annual Awards
Since 1971, the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) has honored outstanding contributions to suicide prevention, intervention, research, and advocacy through its Annual Awards program. Over the decades, AAS has presented more than 228 awards to individuals and organizations whose innovation, leadership, and lived experience have advanced the field and strengthened communities. These recognitions, announced each year at the AAS Conference, celebrate excellence across diverse categories including groundbreaking research, crisis services, survivor support, and civic engagement.
Annual Award Nominations are Open:
Nominations Open!
The 2026 American Association of Suicidology Annual Award nominations are now open from September 4 – October 16, 2025. Celebrate those making a meaningful impact in our community by submitting your nominations today.
Nominations Open!
The 2025 Citizen Scientist Award nominations are now open from September 10 – October 15, 2025. These awards honor those who extend their impact beyond formal academic or professional responsibilities to make a meaningful difference in their communities and the broader field of suicide prevention.
AAS Annual Award Categories:
Crisis Center Excellence Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize one center for, either, 1) outstanding service in the face of extraordinary circumstances, or 2) for service to their community through an innovative and creative program. AAS wants to reward and encourage creative responses to crises and life-threatening community problems.
Edwin S. Shneidman Award
Eligible nominees for the Edwin S. Shneidman Award must be a person under forty years of age or a person who is not more than ten years past their highest degree earned. The eligible nominee is a person who has made outstanding contributions in research in the field of suicidology.
Loss Survivor Award
The Loss Survivor Award has been given since 1995 to acknowledge ways in which survivors of suicide transform the trauma of their loss into suicide prevention efforts and/or survivor support. It is intended to recognize significant accomplishments of an individual involved with suicide prevention, intervention and/or postvention advocacy/activism that embodies the mission of AAS.
Louis I. Dublin Award
The Louis I. Dublin Award is a lifetime achievement award for outstanding services/contributions to the field of suicide prevention as evidenced by leadership, devotion, and creativity.
Morton M. Silverman Student Award
Eligible nominees for the Morton M. Silverman Student Award for a paper written by a student on a topic directly related to the field of suicidology. Anyone who is pursuing a degree in their field and is currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate, graduate, professional, or medical student or trainee is eligible.
Roger J. Tierney Service Award
The Roger J. Tierney Service Award recognizes time and effort given to advance the association’s principles, growth, and development, and/or for applied contributions to the fields of suicidology and crisis intervention. The award is to recognize broadly defined service contributions that are to be distinguished from academic or research endeavors.
Transforming Lived Experience Award
The Transforming Lived Experience Award acknowledges a person who has survived their own suicidal experiences and transformed their pain into suicide prevention and recovery efforts. It is intended to recognize significant accomplishments in suicide prevention, intervention, advocacy, and/or recovery that embody the mission of AAS.
2025 Citizen Scientist Awards:
Citizen Scientist Student Award
This award recognizes a graduate student who exemplifies the dual commitment to research productivity and civic engagement. Review of nominations will consider the student’s entire graduate career rather than only the most recent academic year. Ideal candidates will demonstrate excellence in both domains. Nominations for students who excel solely in either research or civic engagement will not be competitive.
Citizen Scientist Professional Award
This award honors a professional who has demonstrated exceptional mentorship by fostering both research excellence and civic mindedness in their students. The focus of this award is on the nominee’s ability to cultivate these values in others, not their own personal achievements. Evaluation will consider the achievements of students mentored over the past five years, reflecting sustained impact and commitment.
Nomination Instructions:
- Review the award criteria for each award prior to submitting a nomination.
- Use the electronic awards submission form to submit your nomination.
- Provide the nominee’s name, phone number, and email address. The nominee may be a self-nomination.
- Provide brief narrative of the nominee’s accomplishments, contributions, talents, and qualifications for the award.
AAS Annual Awards: Winners will be notified via email in early 2026 and must confirm if they will be present to accept their award at the AAS25 conference by March 7, 2026. If an award winner is unable to attend the conference in person, they will receive instructions on submitting a brief video that will be played during the Robert I. Yufit Family Awards Presentation and Luncheon.
Nomination deadline: October 16, 2025
Citizen Scientist Awards: Winners will be notified via email in December 2025.
Nomination deadline: October 15, 2025
Note: Current AAS Board Members are not eligible to receive awards during their tenure.
Questions? Contact communications@suicidology.org.
