AFSP Illinois Offers Culturally Relevant Suicide Prevention Programs During Minority Mental Health Month

Free virtual programs offer life-saving education and community connection during Minority Mental Health Month

CHICAGO, July 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of Minority Mental Health Month this July, the Illinois Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP-IL) is offering a series of free, virtual programs designed to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and provide life-saving education across diverse communities.

The following programs are open to the public and available statewide:

• July 1 | 5:30–6:30 p.m. – Talk Saves Lives for Latinx & Hispanic Communities (en Español)
• July 24 | 6:00–7:30 p.m. – L.E.T.S. Save Lives: Suicide Prevention for Black & African American Communities
• July 31 | 6:30–7:30 p.m. – Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention

Registration and additional event information is available at afsp.org/Illinois#events.

"Historical barriers have left particular ethnic, racial and minority populations facing trauma and other unique challenges that have gone largely unaddressed," said Angela Cummings, executive director of AFSP Illinois. "These programs offer a safe, research-informed space for people to learn, connect, and take steps toward healing and prevention. When we meet people where they are, we save lives."

Culturally informed presentations address suicide prevention in Latinx, Black, and African American communities

The month's programming begins July 1 with Talk Saves Lives for Latinx & Hispanic Communities, a one-hour virtual presentation conducted in Spanish. Designed to reduce cultural stigma and foster open dialogue about mental health, the program highlights suicide risk and protective factors while offering culturally relevant prevention strategies. It is led by trained presenters with lived experience in Latinx and Hispanic communities.

On July 24, AFSP-IL will present L.E.T.S. Save Lives for Black & African American Communities, a 90-minute program created in collaboration with experts in Black mental health and suicide prevention. The presentation addresses the cultural dynamics that influence how suicide is discussed—or not discussed—within Black and African American families, faith groups, and social networks. It provides practical strategies for recognizing risk and starting meaningful conversations.

Rounding out the month on July 31 is Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention, AFSP's signature education program. Open to the general public, this one-hour session offers an overview of suicide as a leading cause of death, explains research-based warning signs and risk factors, and introduces effective prevention practices that can be used in everyday life.

Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States and disproportionately impacts marginalized communities. AFSP Illinois continues its commitment to addressing disparities in mental health care access, education, and advocacy through community-centered outreach.

AFSP and its Illinois chapter are dedicated to improved research, education, and advocacy. Through its statewide network of volunteers, AFSP Illinois offers prevention education programs that emphasize the importance of research-proven self-care techniques as well as the value of engaging professional support.

If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, please call or text 988 for the Suicide Crisis Lifeline. Or text TALK to 741741 or go to https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/.

About the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to individuals affected by suicide. The organization creates a culture that is smart regarding mental health through educational programs, advocation for suicide prevention, and providing support for those affected by suicide. All donations go towards these efforts with the goal of greatly reducing the national suicide rate. For more: www.afsp.org/Illinois 

SOURCE American Foundation for Suicide Prevention