Dear Friends,
At AFSP we are dedicated to preventing suicide and supporting those who struggle, as well as those who have lost loved ones to suicide. Important to this mission is our investment in the research, education, advocacy, and support that empowers communities and enables us to look out for each other.
To accomplish our mission, AFSP is continually improving the science upon which we base our work. As the largest private funder of suicide prevention research, we added 36 new studies in 2025, bringing the current research portfolio to over $30 million. We also partnered with the International Academy for Suicide Research on a summit that brought together 550 researchers from around the world to review the state of the science and address gaps in knowledge aimed at better identification and support for people at risk.
Over the past year, AFSP reached more people than ever before with its prevention and loss support programs through the work of our 73 community-based chapters. We delivered our signature Talk Saves Lives program over 1,000 times, and our International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day program was held in 300 communities in the U.S. and 25 counties.
We mobilized our 55,000 volunteer advocates to push for continued federal funding of suicide research, the Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Program, and 988 and crisis services to ensure access to mental health care and crisis support. Further, our state advocacy resulted in 27 state bills signed into law.
We focused on improving suicide care in health care settings, promoted safe storage of firearms, and connected high risk and disproportionately affected populations and occupations, like those working in the construction industry, to programs and resources.
In 2025, we educated the public on how to help someone through our Talk Away the Dark campaign, which focuses on adults, and our Seize the Awkward campaign in partnership with Ad Council and the National Alliance on Mental Health, which focuses on teens and young adults, including youth of color and LGBTQ+ youth. Further, AFSP’s Out of the Darkness Walks raised awareness and funds for suicide prevention with over 240,000 people walking.
The above investments are helping people to look out for each other — so those struggling with their mental health and thoughts of suicide get the help they need, and those bereaved by suicide are supported.
Over the past year, we were encouraged by a slight decrease in suicide in our country. However, we recognize that more progress is needed and are saddened by the loss of 49,000 lives annually to suicide.
We also recognize we can’t do our lifesaving work alone, and are grateful to our volunteers, donors, walkers, researchers, advocates, and partner companies and organizations for sharing their passion, lived experience, and expertise with us.
At AFSP, we believe suicide prevention starts with applying what we’ve learned from science to identify risk and provide evidenced-based care… and by engaging the power of community.
