American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Recognized International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day On November 19, Supported 271 Events Worldwide

NEW YORK, NEW YORK  (November 23, 2022) – On Saturday, November 19, 2022, over 6,100 people gathered at events across the globe recognizing International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day (ISOSLD), also called Survivor Day in the U.S. The events were supported by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), a volunteer-driven health organization giving those affected by suicide a community empowered by research, education, loss support and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death. According to the World Health Organization, 800,000 people die by suicide across the globe yearly. 

This year, AFSP supported 271 events in seventeen countries from Argentina to Australia. The Survivor Day events, which were virtual and in person, offered attendees the opportunity to learn coping strategies, explore grief and discover resources to help with each unique healing journey. These events also held screenings of AFSP-produced documentaries featuring stories of loss, hope and healing.

“International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day events are important for the millions of people who are affected by suicide loss worldwide, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is proud to help support their individual healing journeys. AFSP is dedicated to preventing suicide and to helping those affected know that they are not alone,” said AFSP Chief Executive Officer Bob Gebbia.

Survivor Day events offer survivors of suicide loss a chance to come together to find connection, understanding and hope through their shared experiences. In the United States alone, nearly six million people know someone who died by suicide each year according to the American Association of Suicidology.

The day of recognition and events occur annually on the Saturday before American Thanksgiving, as the holidays can often be a difficult time for suicide loss survivors. Survivor Day dates back to 1999, when Senator Harry Reid, who lost his father to suicide, introduced a resolution to the United States Senate, leading to the creation of Survivor Day as a national day of recognition.

“Survivor Day events offer suicide loss survivors a space of belonging and acceptance,” noted Erika Barber, AFSP Loss & Healing Council chair and national board member. “Wherever someone may be on their path of grieving and integrating their loss, these events provide opportunities to connect with the loss survivor community, and by doing so, to find—and extend to others—support, inspiration, hope and the gentle reassurance that healing is possible.”

This year AFSP also hosted Facebook and YouTube Live events for Survivor Day. The virtual event in English was held on November 19 and brought together communities from across the world. It featured a screening of an AFSP-produced documentary, followed by a discussion with several loss survivors that explored their experiences and what set them on a pathway toward healing. The day before Survivor Day, November 18, AFSP also hosted Día de Esperanza (Day of Hope) in Spanish. The event is a discussion that offered support specifically for Hispanic and Latinx communities that have been affected by suicide loss. 

For more resources on healing after a suicide loss, please visit AFSP’s loss webpage.

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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, DC, AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states including 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, and YouTube.

Media Contact: María de los Ángeles Corral, AFSP, 917-439-2946, [email protected]