AFSP believes that the lived experiences of individuals and communities are critical factors when developing suicide prevention strategies, which is why The Upright is rooted in equity, action, and collaboration.
Many programs and policies are developed without direct input from the communities they strive to support.
The Upright was created to change that.
As part of AFSP's ongoing commitment to support communities with disproportionate impacts related to suicide, The Upright, a collection of AFSP's resources — including research, programs, and policy — aims to advance health equity in suicide prevention. The Upright promotes resources and programs that acknowledge the critical gaps in access, effectiveness, representation, and cultural relevance in mental health care by gathering direct input from the communities it strives to support.
Join our second online summit on November 17
Add to your calendarThe Upright Summit Webinars
Session One – October 28, 2025
This webinar brings together experts who are connecting communities and driving change in the suicide prevention field. Featured participants include Ruth Shim, M.D., MPH, Sherry Davis Molock, Ph.D., MDiv, and Communilife’s Life Is Precious.
Programs to promote health equity
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L.E.T.S. Save Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention for Black and African American Communities
L.E.T.S. Save Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention for the Black Community is a presentation designed to reduce cultural stigma, foster conversations about mental health, and raise awareness of suicide prevention for individuals who identify as Black or African American. -
Talk Saves Lives™
Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention is a community-based presentation that covers the general scope of suicide, the research on prevention, and what people can do to help save lives. -
Soul Shop for Black Churches
Soul Shop for Black Churches equips faith leaders who are on the front lines of the mental health crisis to minister to those impacted by all the faces of trauma and struggle with regard to suicide. -
Supporting diverse communities
AFSP is committed to working with diverse communities, organizations and policy makers to ensure that culturally relevant mental health resources are equitably available across the nation. -
Mental health resources for marginalized communities
Find resources for suicide prevention focused on supporting individuals in diverse and marginalized communities.
Strong Talk
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From Pain to Purpose: Transforming Lived Experience into Suicide Prevention Advocacy
In this episode, Vic talks with Founder and Executive Director of Wellness Action Recovery, Inc., Fonda Bryant about her history with suicidality, and how lived experience has informed her suicide prevention advocacy and education efforts. -
Building a Path to Suicide Prevention in the Construction Industry
AFSP Vice President for Health Equity and Engagement Victor (Vic) Armstrong, MSW, talks with AFSP Minnesota Chapter volunteer Ray Stenglein about mental health and suicide prevention in the construction industry. -
Mental Health Court, A Conversation with Judge Ginger Lerner Wren
The podcast is now in session! Judge Ginger Lerner-Wren speaks about her role as the pioneer of America’s first Mental Health Court in 1977, creating a human rights model dedicated to the decriminalization of persons living with mental illness. -
Bringing Faith Based Suicide Prevention to Africa with Dr. François Tchidjé
In this episode of the Strong Talk, Pastor Dr. François Tchidjé talks about their shared experience in a unique suicide prevention training conducted in Africa by AFSP and Soul Shop for Black Churches. -
Asian in America with Richard Lui
As the first Asian American male to anchor a daily, national cable news show (at CNN Worldwide), Richard Lui knows what it’s like to achieve great success while occupying space in a complex cultural environment. -
Funny Feelings with J.B. Smoove, Part 2
J.B. Smoove also has a lot to say about mental health. In the second of this two-part episode of the Strong Talk podcast, this big-hearted entertainer shares his experiences finding himself on stage – and finding himself in real life. -
Funny Feelings with J.B. Smoove, Part 1
J.B. Smoove also has a lot to say about mental health. In the first of this two-part episode of the Strong Talk podcast, this big-hearted entertainer shares his experiences finding himself on stage – and finding himself in real life.
Elevating Voices for Long-Lasting Change
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Paving the Way for Black Mental Health: A Conversation With Three Founders
AFSP VP for Health Equity and Engagement Vic Armstrong, MSW, talks with 3 founders of leading Black mental health organizations about the challenges and solutions around mental health and suicide prevention in Black and African American communities. -
Suicide Prevention in the Deaf Community
AFSP VP for Health Equity and Engagement Vic Armstrong, MSW and two panelists discuss barriers for a Deaf, DeafBlind, or Hard of Hearing person in a mental health emergency, surviving suicide loss, making crisis services more accessible and more. -
A Candid Conversation About Suicide in the AAPI Community
AFSP Vice President for Health Equity and Engagement Victor (Vic) Armstrong, MSW, moderates a discussion about the specific considerations regarding mental health and suicide prevention in AANHPI communities. -
Social Work and Suicide Prevention: Empowering Support in Black Communities
This panel discussion examines what is unique about the social work perspective in suicide prevention, and particularly the perspective of Black social workers and Black women social workers in this space. -
Culture and Mental Health in South Asian Communities
AFSP’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Christine Yu Moutier, moderates a discussion among three leading clinical experts to consider how South Asian people face specific challenges when it comes to mental health and suicide prevention. -
Preventing Suicide in Native American Communities
AFSP’s Senior Vice President of Research, Dr. Jill Harkavy-Friedman, moderates a discussion with three leading experts on mental health in Native American communities to address specific challenges in mental health and suicide prevention. -
Mental Health in Asian American and Pacific Islander Families
AFSP’s CMO, Dr. Christine Yu Moutier, moderates a discussion with three leading experts on mental health in AAPI communities to consider the role culture plays in how Asian American/ Pacific Islander families interact with aspects of mental health. -
Supporting the Mental Health of Trans Communities
Morgan Cohn (they/them), AFSP’s area director of Orange County and Inland Empire/Desert Cities in California moderates a conversation highlight the importance of supporting trans mental health. -
Coming Together to Prevent Suicide in Black Communities
AFSP’s CMO, Dr. Christine Yu Moutier, moderates a discussion with three of the leading experts on suicide prevention in Black communities to discuss factors contributing to suicidal behavior and feelings in minoritized communities and more. -
Supporting AAPI Communities: Mental Health Experiences, Discrimination and Reducing Stigma
AFSP CMO, Dr. Christine Yu Moutier moderates a discussion that focuses on how AFSP's national network of chapters can support the AAPI community particularly in the face experiences of discrimination and stigma surrounding mental health experiences. -
Families, Culture and GenZ/Millennial Perspectives on Mental Health and Suicide Loss
AFSP’s CMO Dr. Christine Yu Moutier leads a discussion on how young adults and families are addressing mental health needs and experiences of suicide loss, including youth culture, family dynamics, and how we can all come together for culture change. -
Strengthening Mental Health Support and Connection within the Black Community
AFSP’s VP of Mission Engagement Dr. Doreen Marshall facilitates a discussion with leaders from Black-led organizations focused on inspiring mental health connections and meaningful conversations about mental health and suicide prevention. -
Suicide Prevention Research in Diverse Communities
Dr. Jill Harkavy-Friedman hosts a panel of suicide prevention researchers who translate research findings into tips for preventing suicide in families and communities and share opportunities to learn more to prevent suicide in Communities of Color. -
Preventing Suicide in BIPOC Communities: Ways Forward
Third in our series, “Preventing Suicide in BIPOC Communities: Ways Forward,” AFSP CMO Dr. Christine Moutier leads a moderated one-hour discussion focused on policy opportunities and initiatives. -
Supporting Mental Health in Communities of Color: Ways Forward
The second in our series looks at “Supporting Mental Health in Communities of Color: Ways Forward” Dr. Christine Moutier will lead a moderated one-hour discussion with audience Q&A. -
Mental Health in the Black Community
AFSP takes a closer look at “Mental Health in the Black Community” with a focus on the role of family alongside mental health programs and statewide services that are making mental health and suicide prevention an imperative for the Black community.