Barry is a Cognitive Therapist and is the 2016 winner of the American Association of Suicidology, Roger J Tierney Award for services in suicide prevention. He was the Suicide Awareness Co-ordinator in the Western Health & Social Care Trust.
Barry has worked globally to improve suicide prevention services. He was instrumental in bringing the ASIST and Safetalk programmes to the UK and Ireland. He is a Senior Coaching Trainer with Living Works Incorporated and delivers ASIST Training for Trainers. The current service in the Western Trust has been recognised as a model that should be replicated throughout the UK.
Barry is a member of the Scottish Executive’s Research Expert Group on Suicidal Behaviour, a former Director of the Board of the Irish Association of Suicidology, and a member of the American Association of Suicidology. He was the Chairperson of Youthlife. In 2013, Barry was appointed to the Executive Committee of The National Suicide Research Foundation (Ireland).