Suicide is Leading Cause of Violent Death for People from Arkansas

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

News provided by

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Apr 21, 2016, 05:20 ET

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., April 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Suicide is the leading cause of injury related deaths for Arkansans between the ages of 20 and 64 and the second leading cause of death among all other age groups, according to a report released earlier this month by the Arkansas Department of Health. On Friday, April 22, 2016, at 10:30 A.M. on the steps of the capitol building volunteers from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the largest suicide prevention organization in the United States, will host a press conference, along with Rep. Tim Lemons who will be speaking for the first time about how suicide has directly affected him.

The press conference backdrop will include 515 pairs of shoes placed on the capitol building steps, representing the number of lives lost to suicide in Arkansas in 2014 (the most current release of suicide data from the CDC).

This public health crisis is critically important for everyone who lives in the state as laid out by the "Suicide Statistics Among Arkansans from 2009 to 2014" report released in early April 2016 by the Arkansas Department of Health. While the report found that suicide is the leading cause of death in the state, we know that suicide is preventable. Last year, the state had a surplus of almost $200 million dollars. Advocates from AFSP's Arkansas Chapter shared their ideas for using some of that money for suicide prevention and mental health screening programs on college campuses at a luncheon held for legislators earlier this week on April 20.

The advocates are part of a larger national contingent of AFSP volunteers who will be visiting various state capitols across the United States in spring 2016 to bring best practices in mental health and suicide prevention to state legislators and their staff. This is the second year advocates visited Little Rock.

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.