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

News provided by

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Feb 17, 2016, 10:14 ET

LINCOLN, Neb., Feb. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Suicide is the 11^th leading cause of death in the state of Nebraska. On Thursday, February 18, 2016, volunteers from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the largest suicide prevention organization in the United States, will arrive at the state capitol to meet with lawmakers to thank them for supporting LB 923 in 2014 and encourage them to continue to support legislation that makes suicide prevention a priority. To show their appreciation, members of the Nebraska Chapter of AFSP are hosting a free luncheon for the senators and their staff from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Room 1023 of the Nebraska State Capitol.

"Suicide is not a faceless health issue for our communities – it affects real people. In 2014, many of our state senators demonstrated their support for suicide prevention education in our schools with the passage of LB 923. We hope that by meeting Nebraskans who have been personally affected by suicide, our state senators will continue our progress and make mental health and suicide prevention a priority - an effort that will save lives," said Aileen Brady, chapter board chair of the AFSP Nebraska Chapter.

This is the first year that volunteer advocates are participating in the Nebraska Chapter of AFSP's State Advocacy Day. The advocates are part of a larger national contingent of AFSP volunteers who will be visiting various state capitols across the United States in the spring of 2016 to bring best practices in mental health and suicide prevention to state legislators and their staff.

Suicide in Nebraska
Suicide is the leading cause of death for people ages 10-14 in Nebraska, and the second leading cause of death for people aged 15-34. Suicide cost Nebraska a total of two hundred million dollars of combined lifetime medical and work loss cost in 2010, or an average of one million dollars per suicide death.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP creates a culture that's smart about mental health through education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, and with a public policy office in Washington, D.C., AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states with programs and events nationwide. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report, and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.