AFSP Celebrates National Volunteer Week by Shining Light on Volunteers at the Forefront of Suicide Prevention Nationwide

NEW YORK, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This National Volunteer Week (April 20-26), the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) celebrates the unwavering contributions of its national volunteer network, with 73 chapters across the country, including in Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. AFSP is a leading suicide prevention organization in large part due to its thousands-strong volunteer and advocate community, which dedicates its time, expertise, passion and courage to the cause.

Volunteers and advocates contribute to many essential roles that drive the organization's core efforts around public education, research, advocacy and fundraising. One of those volunteers is LaKeitha Phillips from the AFSP Virginia Chapter. "This past year, I have been blessed to be able to present both Talk Saves Lives and L.E.T.S. Save Lives across the country virtually," states LaKeitha. "I am very proud to share my own experience with others if it helps to change even one mind or save one life. It feels so gratifying when I realize that someone has come to understand that the evidence-based prevention techniques we share in our education programs really do work. I am a living testimony to that."  

"Our organization wouldn't be successful in its important life-saving work without our dedicated volunteers. Without question these individuals are at the center of what we do," said AFSP Chief Executive Officer Bob Gebbia. "This week, and every day, we are grateful to the volunteers involved in our chapters, educational programs, research, advocacy, fundraising and more. They are preventing suicide and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. Volunteers started AFSP almost four decades ago and have made our organization what it is today. Volunteers keep our mission going strong."  

This National Volunteer Week, AFSP invites you to learn how you can be a part of this incredible movement of people making a real difference to prevent suicide either with a chapter or with our national organization by visiting: afsp.org/volunteer. You can also attend our AFSP 101 Volunteer Orientation at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 24. Learn about our mission and how you can get involved. Register here.

Following are extraordinary ways our volunteers and advocates are preventing suicide every day.

Public Education

Community-based suicide prevention education is core to AFSP's mission and reach, with volunteers on the ground leading these efforts. One of these programs is AFSP's Talk Saves Lives^™. With volunteers across the country, AFSP reached 290,000 people last year with science-informed education about suicide, and how we can all help prevent it. These programs have been developed with culturally relevant material to reach specific communities including the Hispanic, Latinx and Black communities.

In addition to suicide prevention education, AFSP's volunteers support the loss survivor community in their healing journey. Healing Conversations, which gives those who have lost someone the opportunity to speak with a trained peer who can share comfort and resources, saw nearly 500 volunteers trained to deliver this programming with 6,700 loss survivors reached through these conversations this past year, in addition to hundreds of thousands reached through virtual programs. 

Research

AFSP's Scientific Council and Advisors, comprised of over 250 volunteers who are experts in this field, help set the research agenda, and with staff, review annual grant applications. Researchers from around the world volunteer their expertise to help select research to fund and inform AFSP programs and advocacy but also that of our field. AFSP has invested $7.5M to fund 34 research studies in 2024.

Advocacy

AFSP's volunteer advocates have the power to effect change in support of federal, state and local suicide prevention and mental health policies. Advocacy Action Day events held each year provide an opportunity for volunteer advocates to meet with state officials, share their experiences and urge action in support of policy priorities. In 2024, nearly 2,000 advocates participated in AFSP Advocacy Action Day events, joining more than 300 legislative meetings in 45 states. In the course of the year, staff and volunteer efforts resulted in the enactment of 20 suicide prevention bills. State volunteers' policy priorities include support for firearms suicide prevention, increased access to care and services, including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and supporting underserved and disproportionately impacted communities, including youth and LGBTQ+ populations.

As a result in 2024, 20 state bills were enacted that volunteer advocates actively supported at Advocacy Action Day events or through letters, testimony or technical assistance.

Walks & Fundraising

Across the country AFSP volunteers have helped to organize and join thousands of Walkers at Out of the Darkness Walks to demonstrate that no one is alone. Through the Hike for Hope Walks, Community Walks, Campus Walks, and the annual Overnight Walk, Walkers start conversations that inspire hope while raising awareness and funds for this important cause. In 2024, there were over 600 Out of the Darkness Walks held nationwide, raising over $23M through Community Walks, over $1.9M through Campus Walks and $3.4M from the Overnight Walk – the most raised since the first Overnight event in 2002.

About The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

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. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, with a public policy office in Washington, D.C., AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, 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.

As a reminder, suicide is a public health matter and most often a result of a mental health condition in combination with other risk factors. How we talk about suicide in the media can negatively or positively influence the health outcomes of those who are vulnerable to suicide. To reduce the risk of suicide contagion we encourage journalists to follow guidelines for reporting on suicide: www.afsp.org/ethicalreporting.

Contact: For media inquiries, please contact AFSP through this link.

SOURCE American Foundation for Suicide Prevention