Advocates from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Visit Jackson to Meet with Lawmakers

News provided by

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Mar 09, 2016, 10:17 ET

JACKSON, Miss., March 9, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Suicide is the 12^th leading cause of death in the state of Mississippi. On Wednesday, March 9, 2016, volunteers from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the largest suicide prevention organization in the United States, will arrive at the state capitol to meet with lawmakers to encourage them to make suicide prevention a priority.

"The Mississippi chapter of AFSP is on a mission to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide. Together, we are stronger, in our goal to reduce the suicide rate 20 percent by 2025," said Sherry Sheffield, chair of the AFSP Mississippi chapter.

This is the first year that volunteer advocates from AFSP Mississippi are hosting an AFSP State Capitol Day event. The advocates are part of a larger national contingent of AFSP volunteers who will be visiting various state capitols across the United States in the spring of 2016 to bring best practices in mental health and suicide prevention to state legislators and their staff.

Suicide in Mississippi
Suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people aged 15-24 in Mississippi, and the fourth leading cause of death for adults aged 25-34. Nearly three times as many people in Mississippi die by suicide than by HIV/AIDS.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP creates a culture that's smart about mental health through education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, and with a public policy office in Washington, D.C., AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states with programs and events nationwide. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report, and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.