Stories about Volunteers
AFSP Celebrates National Volunteer Week by Shining Light on Volunteers at the Forefront of Suicide Prevention Nationwide
This National Volunteer Week (April 20-26), the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) celebrates the unwavering contributions of its national volunteer network, with 73 chapters across the country, including in Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico.
We Need to Do This for Dad
This year I will have lived my life longer without Tom than with him. But he is with me every time I tell his story, train a suicide prevention class, visit with a suicide loss survivor, and attend an Out of the Darkness walk.
Finding Hope and Healing on the Links: Golfing to Support Suicide Prevention
Nearly 14 years ago, my family’s life changed forever. On October 1 of 2009, my brother Sean died by suicide. He was 24 years old at the time, and I was only 21. In the weeks, months, and years that followed, each of us processed and worked through that horrible loss in our own ways.
Finding Hope Through Religion: Together, We Can Stop Suicide in the Queer Community
As a queer Christian, I see how much pain and suffering my queer siblings face, and the statistics around suicide in the LGBTQ community are heartbreaking. Through organizations such as AFSP and The Trevor Project, I have learned so much about suicide prevention in the LGBTQ community.
Navigating Out of the Darkness
I think a big misconception is that those with lived experience are selfish or weak. We are neither. Mental health can be like a labyrinth, and it takes a lot to navigate out of the darkness.
Celebrating Our Volunteers: How The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is Making a Difference Through Its People
Through local chapters in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, our volunteers do the work of carrying out AFSP’s mission of saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. In recognition of National Volunteer Appreciation Week (April 16-22, 2023), we salute and thank them, and all our remarkable volunteers.
How I Became a Chief Hope Hugger at The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of the Darkness Walks
I first got involved with AFSP because of my own person struggles with mental health. As a volunteer I want to support everyone I can, and I discovered I could do that with something as simple as giving a hug!
Finding Strength Through Connection As a Healing Conversations Coordinator
My wife Alice and I had known each other for 35 years and been married for 33 years. Losing her to suicide in 2016 was a terrible, traumatic experience. It was the people I met through AFSP who convinced me to become involved as a volunteer. I realized that we gain more strength through connection.
Talk Saves Lives: How I’m Educating the Next Generation of Nurses
My interest in helping those with mental health challenges originated when I was working as a Registered Nurse in an inpatient psychiatric unit. I worked with families who struggled to understand the dynamics of their loved ones who were experiencing distress.
Changing the Conversation on Suicide in the Black Community
I am a Black woman, and in our community, suicide is largely taboo. It is time for that mindset to be eradicated. I am doing my best to bring about the conversation of suicide prevention in our untapped populations, especially those of color.
Delivering Talk Saves Lives en Español
Mental health and suicide are topics that are not spoken about enough in the Latinx community, though suicide has always impacted us. It’s exciting to me that AFSP’s Talk Saves Lives education program is available in Spanish.
Finding Strength in AFSP’s Overnight Community
I would like to see a world without suicide, in which everyone takes care of their mental health, and all people support one another and are kind to each other. Everyone should have access to the mental health support and services that they need.
I Walk for Atif and a World Without Suicide
When I envision my hope for the future, stigma around mental health will be a thing of the past. I plan to participate in the healing of our world by being transparent, and teaching others what I’ve learned through my times of struggle and triumph.
Giving Thanks to Our Volunteers
We couldn’t accomplish all we do throughout the country without the support of our volunteers, many of whom have a personal connection to the cause. Their passion, support, and hard work makes all the difference and provides the backbone of community that is felt by more and more people every day.
It Was Okay to Say It
I got involved with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in 2011 after I lost my dad to suicide. At first, I didn’t use the word suicide when I was telling people that my dad had passed away. But shortly after that, I realized there’s nothing to be ashamed of.
My Sister Knew We Needed Some Help
I attended Survivor Day for the first time the following year. I expected everyone to be crying and sad. But I loved it. I understood instantly that I was in a room with people who knew exactly how I felt.
I Had Lost Five Students to Suicide
There are still taboos that exist for some people in our community where you don’t really talk about mental health or suicide. AFSP’s community-based Talk Saves Lives program (for adults 18+) is another way of engaging people.
Running in Support of Suicide Prevention
Running with my friends’ pictures on my back, and crossing the finish line, was the most empowering experience I had ever been a part of. Running with our Team AFSP gear on, we got lots of positive comments like, “Thanks for what you’re doing!”
Putting the Unity in Community: The Perseverance of AFSP’s Volunteers
COVID-19 presented many challenges for our volunteers over the last year, and I find myself struggling to express my appreciation to the hundreds of volunteers in Michigan, and the thousands connected to local chapters across the country who helped us continue to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.
Boots on the Ground: Advocating for Suicide Prevention in the Military, and Beyond
Sometimes it’s hard for someone who’s not a part of the military to understand the challenges military service members and their families have. I wanted to see more education made available to service members as well as their families.
Walking to Heal My Family
It wasn’t until I got to college that I finally gave myself the opportunity to heal, and learn more. I helped bring our first Out of the Darkness Campus Walk to my college in 2011.
We Can Talk About It
What first brought me to AFSP was the support it provides within the community. AFSP has done a really good job of bringing its education trainings to churches, and community centers, and allowing a space where people can come in and learn about mental health and suicide prevention.
Bringing Mental Health to My College Campus
I first got involved with AFSP in college through volunteering for the San Francisco Community Walk. My partner lost his best friend to suicide and I wanted to find ways to support him.
Bringing Understanding to Communities Through the Research Connection Program
Suicide prevention is important to me because I want to be a voice for people who don’t have that voice.
2021 Chapter Leadership Conference Awards
Volunteers and staff members from our local chapters across the country came together virtually this year for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s 16th Annual Chapter Leadership Conference.
Volunteering for Suicide Prevention: From Grief to Hope to Action
I have learned that the road to healing is not easy, but few worthwhile things in our lives are easy.
Volunteering for Suicide Prevention: Creating the World We Need
When asked why I volunteer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, my first thoughts are about the faces of the people who have been impacted by suicide and how their stories motivate me to serve.
AFSP’s Secret Sauce: Our Volunteers
As staff, we are so humbled and honored to stand beside our volunteers in these efforts.
Volunteering to #StopSuicide
As we celebrate National Volunteer Week we say thank you for everything our volunteers do every day in the fight against suicide. We are honored have you on our team. Thanks for all you do.