Advocates from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Visit Indianapolis to Meet with Lawmakers

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American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Feb 10, 2015, 12:43 ET

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Each year in the United States, suicide claims over 40,000 lives – more than war, murder, and natural disasters combined. On average, one person dies by suicide every nine hours in Indiana. On Tuesday, February 10, 2015, field advocates from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the largest suicide prevention organization in the United States, will visit the state capital to have meetings with lawmakers to encourage them to prioritize suicide prevention and programs that support reducing suicide in the state.

Source: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

"Suicide is not just a faceless health issue for our society - it affects real people. We hope that by meeting the people who have been personally affected by suicide in the state of Indiana, we will help make suicide prevention a priority for the state lawmakers for all Hoosiers – an effort that will save lives," said Nicole Gibson, senior manager of state advocacy for AFSP.

Suicide in Indiana
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people aged 25-34 in Indiana, and the third leading cause of death for people aged 10-24. Suicide cost Indiana a total of $1,023,791,000 of combined lifetime medical and work loss cost in 2010, or an average of $1,184,944 per suicide death. Twice as many people die from suicide than homicide in the state of Indiana.

The State of Indiana Suicide Prevention Task Force is facilitated by the Indiana State Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) Division of Mental Health and Addiction. It is made up of representatives from 10 organizations, including other state agencies such as the Indiana State Department of Health and the Indiana Department of Education, as well as community organizations whose focus is on suicide prevention and the provision of mental health services.

The State of Indiana Suicide Prevention Task Force developed the updated Indiana State Suicide Prevention Plan: Journey from Hopelessness to Health, released September 2012. The Task Force now meets bi-monthly to develop a work plan for implementation of the updated state plan and encourages collaboration with and amongst the state's Regional Suicide Prevention Councils.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention leads the fight against suicide. We fund research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, AFSP has 75 local chapters with programs and events nationwide. Review our Annual Report to learn more about AFSP's life-saving work, and join the national conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.