August 2023 Positive Change Recipient: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

 Contributed by : Crystal Howser, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – Greater Ithaca Walk, Treasurer

This year’s Greater Ithaca Out of the Darkness Community Walk will be Saturday, September 9, 2023 at Myers Park in Lansing, NY.  Our walks are free to register, and everyone is welcome to join us.  You can register or get more information about this year’s walk at: www.afsp.org/ithaca

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide, including those who have experienced a loss. AFSP creates a culture that’s smart about mental health through public education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide.

Top 10 AFSP Messages

  1. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention leads the fight against suicide — we save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.
  2. AFSP is the largest private suicide prevention organization in the United States, with chapters in all 50 states and programs and events nationwide.
  3. AFSP is grounded in science and offers many programs that promote suicide prevention, awareness, education, and loss support.
  4. AFSP is the largest private funder of suicide prevention research — our investment in research has helped shape the field to answer the most important questions about suicide and how to prevent it.
  5. AFSP rallies volunteers at the state, federal, and local levels to advocate for policies that will reduce suicide and improve mental health services.
  6. AFSP has set a bold goal to reduce the annual suicide rate 20 percent in the U.S. by the year 2025 — that’s tens of thousands of lives that will be saved.
  7. AFSP connects those who have lost someone to suicide to local support events like the International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day held every November and can arrange a conversation with someone who has experienced a similar loss through the Healing Conversation Program.
  8. More than 450 Out of the Darkness Community Walks took place across the country last year, with hundreds of thousands of people walking and showing support for suicide prevention.
  9. For more information and suicide prevention resources, go to www.afsp.org.
  10. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call 988 for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or text TALK to 741741 to text with a trained crisis counselor from the Crisis Text Line for free, 24/7.

A Note from GreenStar: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is one of 10 local nonprofit organizations voted among GreenStar’s membership to be a 2023 Partner for Change. They are also GreenStar’s August 2023 featured Positive Change recipient. Read more about our Partners for Change program here.

GreenStar members can volunteer to support American Foundation for Suicide Prevention through Cooperators in the Community and earn a 15.5% discount on their purchases at GreenStar. Learn how you can get involved here.