American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
| Founded | 1987 |
|---|---|
| Focus | Suicide prevention, Mental illness, Mental health |
|
Area served
|
United States |
| Method | Research, Education, Support, Advocacy |
| Website | www.afsp.org |
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is a non-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy, and to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide."[1]
AFSP's main objectives include:
- Funding scientific research
- Providing education to professionals
- Raising awareness and informing the public about mood disorders and suicide prevention
- Advocating for government legislation that promotes suicide prevention efforts, and
- Providing resources for families and individuals affected by suicide
Contents
Mission
The AFSP’s mission is to raise awareness for suicide prevention, to provide support for legislation in individual chapters, to support research in suicide prevention and policies, to provide education and training for healthcare providers and educators, and to support survivors of suicide loss.
History
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) was founded in 1987 by several people who had lost loved ones to suicide. These surviving family members joined with scientists to create the first nationwide not-for-profit devoted to supporting suicide-related research and prevention initiatives.
Since its founding in 1987, the AFSP continues to accomplish the following: * creating support groups connecting people who lost family members to suicide, * reaching out to individuals at risk of suicide, * educating thousands of educators, families, and communities on suicide prevention, * establishing local chapters across the nation, * increasing funding and lobbying for legislation, and * educating reporters and media in the use of social media to connect to the public.[2]
== Organizational Structure == Division and Area Directors. Each division has a Division Director, who acts as a liaison between the division and national headquarters. Each division director reports to the Vice President of Field Management and Development. Area Directors, who report to Division Directors, work with assigned chapters in a given state or region.
Local Chapters. The President and the Chair of a local chapter work closely together and report to the director for their area. Operating under the President and the Chair, the Board of Directors oversees committees, and committees organize front-line staff and volunteers.
In Utah, Taryn Aiken acts as Chair. She says the Board of Directors is typically made up of 10-12 people and meets together once a month. As a volunteer for AFSP, Taryn travels to schools and other organizations to develop beneficial relationships.
Constituency
The organization's main constituents are scientists, survivors of suicide loss, people who live with mental illness and their families. AFSP has 75 local chapters nationwide that drive the organization's outreach, advocacy and fundraising efforts. They work closely with organizations that provide crisis counseling, including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Research
Since its inception, one of the primary parts of AFSP's mission has been to promote and provide funding to suicide-related research. Since 2002, AFSP has made grants of more than $20 million to scientists studying the causes of suicide, new treatments, how to prevent suicide and the impact suicide has on families and communities.
AFSP research grants fund varying types of studies, including: brain studies, genetic research, research that explores new interventions and treatments, cultural studies and survivor-related research.
Education and prevention programs
AFSP funds several programs to reduce stigma and help the public better understand suicide. The Interactive Screening Program (ISP) was first piloted at Emory University and is an online tool used to connect people at risk for suicide with counselors. It has been implemented in many settings, including colleges, police departments, workplaces and the NFL Players Union.[3][4][5] More Than Sad: Suicide Prevention Education for Teachers and Other School Personnel was designed to inform teachers and school administrators about their role in suicide prevention. It is also used to teach high school students about depression and ways to get help if they feel suicidal.
SafeTalk
SafeTalk was developed to “prepare anyone over the age of 15 to identify persons with thoughts of suicide and connect them to suicide first aid resources.” Over 2,000 people have been trained in safeTALK since February 2015. The training, approximately three hours in duration, aspires to eliminate individual tendencies to “miss, dismiss, or avoid suicide.” Additionally, trainers learn to identify others who may be struggling and, in turn, initiate an action plan. This plan rests on two acronyms--“Safe” stands for “suicide alertness for everyone”, while TALK stands for “Tell, Ask, Listen, and KeepSafe.” By encouraging these principles in each trainer, the AFSP hopes to extend its reach.[6]
Out of the Darkness Walks
AFSP is a privately funded, 501(c)(3) organization that raises money through fundraising walk events nationwide. They host hundreds of local walks, as well as a 16-18 mile walk that takes place in a different major US city each year.
The AFSP’s main fundraising event—at the local level—is its Out of the Darkness walks. Utah’s first walk was held in 2007, and the event is held annually. Organized by local volunteers, the walks increase suicide awareness and raise money for research. In 2014, the walks raised over $150,000.[7] Yearly, the Utah chapter allocates funds to training and education throughout the state. The AFSP holds three different events: community walks, campus walks, and overnight walks. Bringing family, friends, and neighbors together, community walks occur every fall and consist of 3- to 5-mile walks. Likewise, campus walks consist of 3- to 5-mile walks, but campus walks are designed to “engage youth and young adults in the fight to prevent suicide, the second leading cause of death among people ages 18-24.”[8] The Out of the Darkness Overnight walk occurs annually and rotates cities around the nation every year. More difficult than campus and community walks, the overnight walk consist of a 16-to-18 mile walk from dusk to dawn.[9]
Postvention programs
International Survivors of Suicide Day brings together survivors of suicide loss at locations around the world, to promote healing and connect with others that have had similar experiences. It is officially observed on the Saturday before American Thanksgiving, and was instituted in 1999 by a U.S. Senate resolution. Survivors of suicide loss can participate in local gatherings in their communities or view the program online. After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools[10] contains information and resources for schools that have experienced a suicide in their community.
In the LGBT community
AFSP partnered with the Johnson Family Foundation and several LGBT organizations to develop media reporting guidelines for suicides that occur in the LGBT community. They have also sponsored and coordinated several national symposiums to address mental health and suicide within the LGBT community[11]
Out of the Darkness walks
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See also
References
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- ↑ Garlow, S. J., Rosenberg, J., Moore, J. D., Haas, A. P., Koestner, B., Hendin, H. and Nemeroff, C. B. (2008), Depression, desperation, and suicidal ideation in college students: results from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention College Screening Project at Emory University. Depression and Anxiety, 25: 482–488.
- ↑ Haas A.P., Koestner B., Rosenberg J., Moore D., Garlow S.J., et al. (2008). An interactive Web-based method of outreach to college students at risk for suicide. Journal of American College Health, 57(1), 15–22.
- ↑ Moutier, Christine MD; Norcross, William MD; Jong, Pam MD; Norman, Marc PhD; Kirby, Brittany MSW; McGuire, Tara MS; Zisook, Sidney MD (2012). The Suicide Prevention and Depression Awareness Program at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.
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