Getting Involved in Suicide Prevention Through Advocacy & Volunteering
Suicide is often a taboo and emotionally charged subject. Whether you’ve been personally affected, getting involved in suicide prevention advocacy can help save lives. CDC data shows that over 48,100 people died by suicide in 2021, making it the 11th leading cause of death overall [1]. There are many different ways you can contribute though volunteering for suicide prevention, from spreading awareness with community education initiatives to advocating for changes in the law.
Key Takeaways
- Suicide prevention advocacy opportunities exist at the local, state, and federal levels.
- Volunteer opportunities include fundraising, spreading awareness, participating in events, and helping with hotlines.
- You can engage as much as you want with suicide prevention advocacy to find an option that’s comfortable for you.
Ways to Promote Suicide Prevention Locally in Your City
Suicide prevention advocacy in your city gives you the chance to make a difference on a local level. Because it takes place where you live, local volunteering for suicide prevention is often easily accessible for ongoing involvement. Ways to get involved locally include:
- Researching. Start by educating yourself on the local suicide prevention resources that are available. This helps you choose which direction you want to take in your advocacy efforts.
- Volunteering. Look for opportunities to give your time to local mental health organizations. Some of these groups provide direct suicide prevention services, while others focus on improving overall mental health in the community. Nonprofit organizations rely on volunteers to support various campaigns.
- Participating in advocacy efforts. Get involved in grassroots advocacy efforts that you notice within the community. Suicides within the community often spur residents to take action. Embrace those opportunities and contribute your time and talents to making them meaningful.
- Promoting education and resources. Sharing local resources and community education materials spreads awareness that others in your social circle need. If you run a business or participate in a community group, consider making print materials available to your customers, employees, and members. Something as simple as posting a local suicide prevention hotline could save a life.
Another option, especially suitable for parents, is to work with your child’s educators and policymakers to include additional mental health education in schools — for example, teaching about mental wellness, promoting resilience, and educating students on how to recognize signs of distress in themselves and others.
Dr. Brindusa Vanta, MD
How to Advocate for Suicide Prevention in Your State
Broadening your efforts to the state level helps expand your impact. Some options to get involved include:
- Contacting state government officials. Express your concerns over suicide rates in your state, and suggest actionable steps your government officials can take. If your state is considering legislation that could help or hurt suicide prevention efforts, voice your opinions to your representatives.
- Participating in state public policy events. Public policies related to mental health, firearms, medication, and heath insurance coverage all connect back to suicide prevention. In addition, groups might advocate specifically for suicide prevention programs or training for professionals who work with vulnerable groups. Attend public meetings, rallies, and other events related to these topics. Get involved in groups that advocate for changes to state laws.
- Joining advocacy groups. Look for statewide suicide prevention advocacy groups and networks to find more opportunities. Participate actively in those groups to address specific suicide-related issues in your state.
Engaging in Federal Suicide Prevention Advocacy
Suicide prevention efforts exist at the federal level as well. National organizations, such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, play a pivotal role in changing suicide prevention policy. The organization features an action center outlining state and federal bills that need support. It also hosts a yearly advocacy forum in Washington, DC. Other national-level organizations provide similar advocacy opportunities and other resources for people affected by or considering suicide.
Here are some ways to get involved:
- Joining a local chapter. Nationwide organizations such as AFSP often have local or state chapters where you can support the national chapter from home.
- Getting involved in federal public policy. Expand your public policy support to the federal level to make a larger impact. Contact your U.S. government representatives to show your support for bills that help with suicide prevention.
- Attending events. Plan to attend the AFSP Annual Advocacy Forum in Washington DC to support the programs and learn more about advocating for suicide prevention.
Exploring Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering for suicide prevention efforts is a meaningful way for you to make an impact. If you’ve lost a loved one or friend to suicide, helping others can be a therapeutic activity that gives you a positive way to channel your grief. Some ways to participate through volunteering include:
- Membership. Become a member of suicide prevention organizations. These groups often hold fundraisers, provide community education, and support loved ones affected by suicide. You can engage with the group’s activities based on your interests and talents.
- Administrative support. Nonprofit organizations that help with suicide prevention efforts often need help handling administrative tasks. They might not have the funds to hire an additional staff member to handle paperwork, filing, and other essential tasks. Spend a few hours a week handling those tasks to help the organization stay compliant and operate smoothly.
- Suicide hotline. Volunteering your time with a suicide hotline can help you make a direct impact on people who are considering suicide. Organizations typically provide training, so anyone who’s compassionate and empathetic can volunteer in this capacity.
- Events. Attend events held by suicide prevention organizations in your area. If you want to support the organization in a more meaningful way, participate in the planning and setup process for their special events, such as fundraisers.
- Programs. For an ongoing way to get involved, volunteer on a recurring basis with various suicide prevention programs. Local organizations often provide a host of options for involvement. You might facilitate a support group or participate in community education campaigns, for example.
Volunteering helps support the cause of preventing suicide and is good for your health, too. Research studies have found many benefits to volunteering, including improved mental health, feeling more socially connected and having better physical health, such as lower blood pressure and increased longevity.
Dr. Brindusa Vanta, MD
Make an Impact With Suicide Prevention Advocacy
Suicide prevention advocacy often comes with a heavy emotional weight, but your efforts could change the lives of people in your community and beyond. Find advocacy opportunities that speak to your experiences, utilize your talents, and fulfill your desire to help.
Written by Shelley Frost
Shelley Frost holds a degree in education and has amassed a diverse writing portfolio primarily covering business, marketing, home improvement and senior living topics. Before moving to full-time freelancing, she worked in insurance, software testing and education, giving her a broad range of real-world skills to apply to her writing. She prides herself on her creativity and ability to capture the voice of each client. In her free time, Shelley enjoys decorating cakes, gardening, crafting, traveling and attending her kids' many school activities.
Edited by Katelynne Shepard
Katelynne Shepard is a writer, editor and SME who is proficient at crafting and reviewing content. She has been a full-time copywriter and editor since 2011 and has written content for Fortune 500 companies, independent law firms, indie publishers, small-business owners and mainstream websites. She specializes in parenting, lifestyle, family law, personal injury, criminal law, immigration law, astrology, personal finance, education and health care. In addition to thousands of e-commerce product and category descriptions, Verle's work includes SEO blogs, social media posts and long-form informational articles.
Subject Matter Expert Brindusa Vanta, MD
Dr. Brindusa Vanta is a healthcare professional, researcher, and medical subject matter expert . She earned her MD degree from "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine, Romania. She has a special interest in mental health and has collaborated with psychologists and other mental health practitioners on various research projects focused on therapies to manage depression, age-related cognitive decline, trauma and stressor- related conditions.
Sources
National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Suicide statistics. Sourced from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide