2025 Oregon Chapter Update
August 1, 2025 – 3 min read
Chapter Message
As many of you know, our chapter is currently without a staff member and has been for quite some time. Our chapter is incredibly fortunate to be lead by a dedicated group of volunteers who refuse to stop working to fulfill AFSP’s Mission to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.
We have continued to present Talk Saves Lives, It's Real, and Supporting Those at Risk both in person and over Zoom. If you are interested in bringing our programming to your business, school or community please fill out the Programing Request Form.
We are gearing up for our EIGHT Out of the Darkness Walks across the state and hope to see you at one (or more) of them! If you are interested in joining one of our walk volunteer teams please email [email protected], we would LOVE to have you join us.
We are so thankful for the community you provide us, knowing that as volunteers ourselves that we are not alone. We are in this journey together and stronger because of it.
Public Policy Update
The Oregon Chapter held it's Advocacy Action Day this past February and the thirty-four volunteer advocates met with SEVENTY legislators! It was a somber dat at the Capitol as one of our own Representatives lost a family member to suicide just a couple days before our Advocacy Action Day.
Our Legislative Priorities this year were for veteran suicide prevention, physician and physician assistants to complete continueing education regarding suicide and lethal means counseling, establishing and defining firearm hold agreements, and continueing to support the work of the Task Force on Community Safety and Firearm Suicide Prevention.
In June, our Advocacy & Public Policy Committee Chair, Angela Perry, was asked to join AFSP National's Public Policy Council and her and two volunteer advocates attended AFSP's Advocacy Forum in Washington DC. They met with hundreds of other advocates from across the country to learn how to enhance our states advocacy presence, learn more about the state of 988 and hear from some key legislators. They also met with Oregon Legislators advocating for the Dr Lorna Breen Healthcare Provider Protection Reauthorization Act and the Saving Our Veterans Lives Act.
Remember, if you have not already signed up to be a field advocate for AFSP please visit afsp.org/advocate to do so!
Volunteerism Update:
We would LOVE to have you volunteering with the Oregon Chapter of AFSP!
Fill out our volunteer application here!
Loss and Healing Update:
Whether in person or online, we hope that you’ll join us for International Suicide Loss Survivor where we have the opportunity to come together for healing and support. For more information please visit: www.afsp.org/SurvivorDay
We also want to remind you of our program, Healing Conversations, formerly known as the Survivor Outreach Program. Healing Conversations gives those who have lost someone to suicide the opportunity to talk with experienced volunteers who are themselves survivors of suicide loss, offering understanding and guidance in the weeks and months following a suicide death. For more information visit www.afsp.org/HealingConversations
Stress Less Exercise:
Thank Yourself For Being
Behind all of your doings is you--independent of your gains, goals and everything you do. The true you will show when you give up doing for a while. Close your eyes and thank yourself for being able to just be. Even if it feels hard not to do anything, just sit there and thank yourself for being. Thank yourself for being so much more than you can prove by doing and saying stuff to others.
Gratefulness helps us to be in the present moment, positively. When you experience the here and now, it reduces stress.