Mark McConville is an accomplished Stand-Up Comedian, MC and Keynote Speaker and has been working in the Australian entertainment industry since 1998. In 2018 Mark graduated from Griffith University with a master’s degree in Suicidology. He subsequently was appointed as Adjunct Lecturer at The Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention AISRAP, based at Griffith University, a position he maintains today.
Mark has combined his natural talent in comedy with his expertise in suicidology to impact communities around Australia. His world first Laughter Clinic Keynote presentations and workshops have been proven to help in the fight against stress, anxiety, depression and ultimately suicidality.
His story began back in late 2014 when Mark first met with Emeritus Professor Diego de Leo, former Director of the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention (AISRAP), based at Griffith University’s Mt Gravatt Campus. The aim of this meeting was to discuss whether Griffith University would be interested in supporting Marks research ideas; to test his own theory of using humour and laughter tools as a direct means of helping to prevent suicide. Professor De Leo thought the idea was both unique and worthy of merit, so he encouraged Mark to apply to enrol in AISRAP’s Suicidology post graduate program, starting with the Graduate Certificate in Suicide Prevention Studies offered by AISRAP at Griffith University.
In 2015, at the age of 45, Mark attended university for the first time in his life. He was eligible to enter the Graduate Certificate program based on prior industry and lived experience of suicidality.
Mark achieved outstanding results in this program, receiving a Griffith Award for Academic Excellence in 2016, while also becoming eligible to enter the Master of Suicidology program, a world first qualification offered by Griffith University and awarded to him in 2018.
With unwavering encouragement, guidance and support from Griffith’s Senior Lecturer and Program Director of Suicidology, Dr Jacinta Hawgood, and Primary Dissertation Supervisor, Dr Gavan Palk, Mark found himself go from a struggling student to a confident university Alumni, and a leading suicidology expert in his field.
Since 2018 Mark has been a resident presenter in the ‘Triumph Over Trauma’ program which is run by the not-for-profit foundation ‘4 Aussie Heroes’. This program is specifically for military and first responder personnel, past and present, who are suffering with PTSD and other related mental health issues.
On numerous occasions Mark has also presented on the topics of mental health and suicide prevention to the Crime and Intelligence Command Branch of Queensland Police.
In 2021 Mark was invited to present his Laughter Clinic Workshop at the 31st International Association for Suicide Prevention’s World Congress. The IASP World Congress is the primary global collaborative opportunity for expert thinking related to suicide and suicide prevention.
Now in 2024 Mark represents AISRAP on numerous levels, from community-based events for awareness raising about suicide prevention, to delivery of his renowned Laughter Clinic keynote presentations and workshops. He provides staunch support for the importance of suicide prevention research conducted by AISRAP, also a World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention.
