WE DEMAND MORE LIFESAVING RESEARCH FOR MENTAL HEALTH
WE DEMAND MORE LIFESAVING RESEARCH FOR MENTAL HEALTH
We are raising our voices for more research that will help us learn more and support people better.
Suicide is preventable. Research has revealed many ways we can help save lives. (Discover the top findings from suicide research here.) It is essential that we support legislation that will enable us to make learning about suicide a priority, so that we can save more lives in the future. READ MORE+
AFSP has urged Congress for several years to increase funding for suicide research within the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Defense. Data collection is important for prevention efforts overall, and especially for those communities at increased risk for suicide, including LGBTQ youth and Veterans. In order to design effective suicide prevention strategies, we must ensure the availability of complete, accurate, and timely information about deaths by suicide. We need to know who is dying by suicide and the circumstances surrounding those deaths; this is even more vital when we look to increase effectiveness of prevention efforts targeting high risk or underserved populations.
For the 2023 Fiscal Year, AFSP is requesting that Congress once again include suicide prevention research within the National Institute of Mental Health's research priorities. There are also several research-related bills that AFSP supports:
This bill would create a grant program through the National Science Foundation to support research on neurological and psychiatric illnesses associated with COVID-19 infection. It would also direct the White House Office of Science and Technology to establish a temporary interagency working group focused on researching and informing the public about neurological and psychiatric illnesses associated with COVID-19 infection. (H.R.5772)
DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT
DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT
You can personally play an important role in demanding #MoreForMentalHealth, and championing mental health and suicide prevention research. Bring this and other mental health topics up when talking with others in your community, or share a message or one of our images on social media – you can even use our custom graphic tool to personalize it! – to spark an important conversation, and encourage your friends, family, and coworkers to help spread the word.
AFSP has local chapters in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, working to educate and provide support and resources to those around them. Visit your local chapter to find out what’s planned in your community, and join the raised voices of thousands of volunteers and advocates to demand #MoreForMentalHealth.
It’s easier than you think to become a mental health and suicide prevention advocate. Visit AFSP’s Action Center to learn more about the federal bills AFSP supports related to mental health and suicide prevention research. While you’re there, be sure to stay in the know by signing up to become an AFSP mental health and suicide prevention advocate, and join 40,000+ other passionate advocates dedicated to changing the culture around mental health.
Join Me in Advocating for Suicide Prevention Research Funding
By Dr. Jill Harkavy-Friedman, AFSP Vice President of Research
Suicide prevention research has taught us so much and has helped us discover ways that we can lower the rates of suicide, and save lives. Yet funding for suicide prevention research is woefully inadequate. I’m here to tell you that everyone can get involved in fighting for legislation that can help change this.
