2026 Oregon Chapter Update

Chapter Message

As many of you know, our chapter was without a staff member 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 are thankful to welcome our new Area Director, Helen Cotton, who started a little over two months ago!

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 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 fifty volunteer advocates met with or dropped off folders to ALL legislators! We also had the pleasure of welcoming Representative Dacia Grayber to our event to share her family's story and the loss of Addison that happened just prior to Advocacy Day in 2025.

Our Legislative Priorities this year were related to the mental health parity and a first for AFSP--a bill related to AI Chatbots and safety measures.  We are happy to share that two of the three bills passed and have been signed in by the Govenor!

In May, our Advocacy & Public Policy Committee Chair, Angela Perry, our Advocacy Ambassader, Stacey Jung 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 Barriers Act, the STOP Suicide Act and the Daniel J Harvey and Adam Lambert Improving Service Member Transition Act.  For a full recap you can find that here.

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