Tuesday, May 17, 2011

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)


The AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) is a non-profit organization dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education, and reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide.
The AFSP has a certain way of achieving its mission. They have five core strategies consisting of:
-Funds scientific research
-Offers educational
programs for professionals
- educates the public about
mood disorders and
suicide prevention
- promotes policies and
legislation that impact
suicide and prevention
- provides programs and
resources for survivors of
suicide loss and people at
risk, and involves them in
the work of the foundation

AFSP began in 1987, when a number of leading experts on suicide came together with business and community leaders and survivors of suicide to form AFSP. They believed only a combined effort would make it possible to fund the research necessary for progress in the prevention of suicide.
This approach was proven successful with heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, and they thought they could do it with people suffering from depression and suicide.
The original founders were concerned with the alarming rise in youth suicide over the past four decades. During this period, the suicide of men has tripled and the suicide of women has doubled. Suicide is now the second major cause of death among high school and college students, and even more common among older people over the age of 50.
Before the AFSP was formed, there was no national non-profit organization dedicated to funding the research to prevent suicide, but that has changed over the course of twenty years.

2 comments:

  1. I admire the fact that the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention puts suicide at the same rank as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. This shows just how important the fight to end this mental disease really is. It also gives me hope that the AFSP will continue to progress in finding way to prevent this disease because it worked so well with the other ailments. I also like the fact that this organization dedicates themselves to research and education, but it also puts importance on the well-being of suicide victims and survivors by involving them in working with the foundation. I feel this technique works because it helps these people who are affected by suicide mentally and physically. The statistics that this organization provided is alarming. It is scary to think that suicide is the second major cause of death in young students. It is crucial that organizations like the AFSP are given support to aid in stopping suicide in future generations.

    -Kim Gonzaga

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  2. The AFSP is a non-profit organization that helps many and reaches out to the public. By understanding and preventing suicide they help save lives. AFSP began in 1987, when a number of leading experts on suicide came together with business and community leaders and survivors of suicide to form AFSP. Meaning that each one of its members are serious men and woman that care. Each and everyone help make a difference. Before the AFSP was formed, there was no national non-profit organization dedicated to funding the research to prevent suicide, but that has changed over the course of twenty years. This not only single handed makes them special, but show they where the first to react. By helping this organization you show your effort and your duty for human dignity. The AFSP takes its time to help heal the person of their wounds, it is not easy dealing with suicide. Any and all attempts are handled with care and love, we all are Gods children.

    -Carlos Garcia

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