LifeStance Health Foundation Partners with American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to Advance Mental Health Research

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. and NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeStance Health Foundation, an organization endowed by LifeStance that funds interventional research to address the biggest areas of opportunity in mental health, today announced a $100,000 grant to American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death.

The funding from LifeStance Health Foundation will support clinical research designed to advance suicide prevention strategies, including establishing early invention best practices among youth and developing predictive analytics that can be used to better identify at-risk individuals across the lifespan.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10-34, and the fourth leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 35-44. Additionally, according to the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an estimated 12.8 million adults age 18 or older reported having thoughts of suicide, underscoring the critical need for additional scientific research to better understand and prevent suicide¹.

"Suicide prevention is central to the care we provide at LifeStance, and we are committed to doing everything possible to address suicide risk in the communities that we serve nationwide," said Dave Bourdon, CEO, LifeStance and Director, LifeStance Health Foundation. "We're honored to partner with American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to advance essential research that will have long-term systemic impact on our industry and strengthen how we collectively support at-risk populations."

In addition to the year-long partnership, LifeStance Health Foundation will match LifeStance teammate donations to AFSP, up to $50,000. Currently, LifeStance teammates have formed over 40 Out of the Darkness Walk teams to participate in AFSP's signature fundraising series and bring awareness to the importance of suicide prevention across the country.

"We are grateful to LifeStance Health Foundation for their support of youth suicide prevention," said AFSP CEO Bob Gebbia. "By investing in AFSP's research and programs, they are making possible the development of new evidence-based educational programs, interventions and treatments for at-risk youth. We thank LifeStance Health Foundation for their generosity and leadership and for helping to save young lives." 

About LifeStance Health Foundation
Established in 2021, LifeStance Health Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that focuses on funding interventional research to address the biggest areas of opportunity in mental health, including youth and early intervention, fragmentation and coordination, and access and equity. LifeStance Health Foundation is endowed by LifeStance Health, one of the nation's largest providers of virtual and in-person outpatient mental health care for children, adolescents and adults experiencing a variety of mental health conditions. LifeStance and its supported practices employ approximately 7,700 psychiatrists, advanced practice nurses, psychologists and therapists and operate across 33 states and more than 550 centers.

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, 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, YouTube, LinkedIn and TikTok.

¹ https://afsp.org/suicide-statistics/

SOURCE American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; LifeStance Health Foundation