Specialization
Dr. Saskia Mérelle has a background in clinical epidemiology (Erasmus University Rotterdam) and was originally trained as a human movement scientist (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam). She currently works as a Senior Researcher and Team Lead at 113 Suicide Prevention, is a Visiting Fellow in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychosocial Care at Amsterdam UMC, and serves as Principal Investigator of the Psychosocial Autopsy Study at the Amsterdam Cohort Hub. Over the past 10 years, she has contributed to translating scientific knowledge into practical applications that improve suicide prevention policy and practice.
Focus of research
Dr. Saskia Mérelle specializes in the field of youth suicide prevention, as evidenced by more than 50 publications in leading international peer-reviewed journals. She has successfully developed several innovative research lines in suicide prevention, including the mixed-methods Psychosocial Autopsy Study; the application of artificial intelligence and natural language processing within the 113 Suicide Prevention Helpline; the co-design and evaluation of interventions based on the perspectives and needs of young people; and research aimed at improving hospital care for individuals who have attempted suicide.
In addition, Saskia has extensive experience mentoring early-career researchers across the disciplines of medicine, psychology, data science, and health sciences, including serving as a co-supervisor for multiple PhD candidates.