The suicide prevention research center was established in 2010 and Professor Michael Phillips was appointed its director. The goals of the center were to 1) increase the quality of research about suicide prevention in Shanghai; 2) train Shanghai professionals about suicide prevention methods; and 3) create a exceptional suicide prevention team of professionals. Over the subsequent 12 years the research center has gradually expanded it focus to include a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, public health experts, biostatisticians, and psychologists.