At AFSP, our mission is to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide. |
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It is our pleasure to invite you to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s 2025 Lifesavers Gala. This special annual event –– in which we honor those who have helped us make important strides in the fight to stop suicide –– will be held Thursday, May 1 at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City!
This year’s Gala will be hosted by Cindy Hsu, Emmy Award-winning anchor and reporter at CBS New York who has done so much to elevate the cultural discourse around this leading cause of death. Hsu discussed her own personal battle with depression in two special segments on CBS2 news, “Breaking the Stigma” and “Breaking the Stigma: You are Not Alone.” In each segment, Hsu bravely shared her own journey fighting depression and urged viewers that there is no shame in experiencing mental health challenges or in seeking help.
Chaired this year by Mark Baer (Partner, Immediate Past CEO at Crowe LLP), the Lifesavers Gala will honor: |
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Jay Glazer
(Public Service Lifesaver Award)
As the National Football League Insider for FOX Sports’ award-winning NFL pregame show, FOX NFL Sunday, Jay has not only established himself as a highly regarded sports reporter, but has also become a powerful advocate for men, athletes, and others struggling with mental health. Jay is the author of Unbreakable: How I Turned My Depression and Anxiety Into Motivation and You Can Too. In Jay’s podcast Unbreakable with Jay Glazer: A Mental Wealth Podcast, Jay shares his personal mental health journey and techniques he’s developed to "fight the gray" and "live in the blue" –– his personal phrases for living and thriving with anxiety, depression, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). |
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Ethan and Naomi Sacks
(Public Education Lifesaver Award)
When Naomi Sacks, the teenage daughter of comic book writer Ethan Sacks (Marvel’s Old Man Hawkeye, Silver Surfer, and the Star Wars series, Galaxy’s Edge and Bounty Hunters) was hospitalized for suicidal thoughts, Ethan’s impulse was to tell a story that encouraged her to live. Naomi made the brave choice to seek and accept help, and returned to high school after hospitalization, which came with its own set of challenges. Ethan and Naomi (now a thriving student at McGill University) collaborated on the hit comic book miniseries A Haunted Girl (Image Comics), reflecting the perspectives of both an individual in distress and a concerned family member, removing the stigma from young people’s experiences with mental health. |
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Eric and Terry Murray
(Survivors of Suicide Loss Award)
In May of 2024, Eric and Terry Murray lost their 30-year-old son Grayson, a professional golfer on the PGA Tour, to suicide. Grayson had often mentored young, aspiring athletes, both in sports and in life, and bravely shared his struggles with depression and addiction, hoping to inspire others facing similar challenges and remind them they are not alone. Eric and Terry founded The Grayson Murray Foundation to help build much-needed awareness and support around mental health and addiction –– and to honor their son's unwavering commitment to helping others. |
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Katherine Anne Comtois, Ph.D., MPH
(Annual Research Award)
An AFSP Scientific Advisor who has been the recipient of several AFSP grants, Dr. Kate Comtois (Director, Center for Suicide Prevention and Recovery & Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington) is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in suicide prevention, psychiatric disability and employment, and borderline personality disorder. Her research has been funded by AFSP, NIMH, NIDA, the Department of Defense, the Department of Veteran Health Affairs, and the State of Washington. Through her findings, Dr. Comtois has developed or adapted interventions to improve care and clinician willingness to work with suicidal patients, including through treatment approaches like Caring Contacts and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). |
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Marsha Linehan, Ph.D., ABPP
(Lifetime Achievement Research Award)
The developer of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which considered the gold-standard treatment for patients with borderline personality disorder and those with suicidal behavior, Dr. Linehan is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Washington and Director Emeritus of the Behavioral Research and Therapy Clinics. Dr. Linehan's research focuses primarily on the application of behavioral models to suicidal behaviors, drug abuse, and borderline personality disorder. Dr. Linehan has received numerous awards, including AFSP's Annual Research Award, the Louis I. Dublin Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Field of Suicide, and the Marsha Linehan Award for Outstanding Research in the Treatment of Suicidal Behavior, which was established by the American Association of Suicidology in Dr. Linehan's honor. |
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At this special event, our distinguished guests will share inspiring and eye-opening stories about how suicide has affected them, and their valiant and passionate efforts to fight it.
You can register for the Lifesavers Gala now, or simply make a donation in support. And be on the lookout for details on the virtual Gala auction!
Join us! |
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