American Lives at Risk - Major Investment Needed for Suicide Research

Statement from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention on Research Prioritization Task Force Report

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American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Mar 19, 2015, 10:46 ET

NEW YORK, March 19, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In response to the report announced today by the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention "U.S. National Suicide Prevention Research Efforts: 2008-2013 Portfolio Analyses," CEO Robert Gebbia of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, released this statement:

"Suicide is the only one of the top ten causes of death in America that is still on the rise, and it gets the least amount of research funding. We need an investment commensurate with the problem – and we've needed it for years.

The Portfolio Analyses will help guide a strategic national response to preventing suicides. The report details suicide prevention research areas that can aid in driving down U.S. suicide rates.

We are proud that of the 383 grants examined in the Portfolio Analyses, over 25 percent are funded by AFSP.

Investment in research has lowered mortality rates in other leading causes of death and we can do the same with suicide. The sooner we invest in suicide research, the more lives we will save.

AFSP was founded by researchers and families who had been personally touched by suicide who devoted their time to finding ways to fight this terrible tragedy. Since 1987, the organization has grown from a few personally touched to hundreds of thousands of people involved in the organization from across the United States.

We have set a bold goal to reduce the annual suicide rate 20 percent by 2025. We know we can't do this alone, and it's through a stronger commitment to suicide prevention research, that we will achieve our goal."

View the full report: U.S. National Suicide Prevention Research Efforts: 2008-2013 Portfolio Analyses

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is the leader in fight against suicide. We fund research, offer 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.