American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Post

It’s National Suicide Prevention Week! If you have been affected by suicide, you are not alone. 💙 Through our #OutOfTheDarkness Community Walks, AFSP creates a safe space to share connections to the cause. Take a moment this week to sign up for a Walk near you: afsp.org/walk If you’re unable to attend a Walk but want to help save lives, donate to AFSP today: afsp.org/donate

“We can all take action to prevent suicide. Start by learning to recognize when someone may be grappling with their mental health. Reach out directly to someone if you are worried about them or contact someone who can connect with them.” This month we recognize that suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. Our Senior Vice President of Research, Jill Harkavy-Friedman, shares with MSNBC ways we can prevent suicide:

We need your help to make our important work possible. Since 1987, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has made a tremendous impact in the fight to stop suicide and provide support for those affected by this leading cause of death. September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month – but every month is critical in saving lives and providing care for those affected. Become a monthly donor today: afsp.org/donate

Make a difference this National Suicide Prevention Month and become a monthly donor to AFSP! You will get to celebrate the 3 C’s of a monthly donation: 🕜 Convenience Donate to us on a regular basis! Becoming a monthly donor means you don’t need to go looking for the correct web page each month – it’s easy to set up and have the amount of your choosing come out automatically, on its way to make an impact. 📅 Consistent Monthly donations allow us to count on your support, and enable us to spend less time and effort processing individual donations – and more time continuing our mission to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide. 🤝 Connective Becoming a monthly donor helps you stay connected with us and see the real impact your donation is making, knowing your money is making a difference in the fight against suicide. Donate now: afsp.org/donate

“According to scientific research into suicide prevention, putting time and distance between a person who is thinking of suicide and the method they are thinking of using to end their life can be lifesaving. When someone dies by suicide, the circumstances are complex. But something that every firearm-owning household can do is to implement a strategy for increasing the time it takes to access a firearm.” Read more from Ryan Price, AFSP Director of Chapter Engagement:

A strong therapeutic bond can ease a suicidal crisis. We’ve learned through AFSP-funded research that clinician-client relationships can impact suicidal desire and improved outcomes. Learn more about this #Science2StopSuicide from Dr. Daniel Cox of The University of British Columbia: https://lnkd.in/gDa-UmhG

Join us in welcoming our new Programs Manager, North Dakota & South Dakota Chapters, Alicia Fabel! We are grateful to have you on the team to help us save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide. If you're interested in working at AFSP, see our current job listings at afsp.org/jobs.

In this Research Roundup, we highlight four AFSP-funded studies about: 📱 Digital safety plans can be an effective tool for people with suicidal thoughts and behaviors 💙 Substance use and depression often contribute to risk for suicide in suicide loss survivors 💻 Machine learning algorithms from health care data can help detect children at risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors 🧬 Genetic predisposition to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia may be associated with risk for suicide attempt See what we examined and learn more #Science2StopSuicide:

No one takes their life for a single reason. We all have mental health, just as we all have physical health, and conditions such as depression, anxiety and substance use problems – especially when unaddressed – increase the risk of suicide. That risk is greater when a firearm is present and accessible in the home. To learn more about firearms, check out upcoming Talk Saves Lives: Firearms programs: