This May, for Mental Health Awareness Month, we're focusing on the topic of resilience, and asking you to play a much-needed role in our month-long Million in May fundraising initiative, in which we seek to raise one million dollars to keep making an impact on communities through research, advocacy, education, loss support programs, and so much more.

Dr. Rick Townsend of AFSP's North Florida Chapter is just one of the many dedicated volunteers who make our mission possible, and whose suicide prevention efforts your gift helps support. Rick has met with lawmakers in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., advocating for governmental support of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and other mental health legislation. For our 2024 Annual Report, Rick opens up about losing his daughter Julia to suicide, and how he has channeled his grief into action:

"My motivation as an AFSP Volunteer Advocate is the hope that the things we do will prevent other families from going through that long dark night we experienced. Advocacy has given me lots of opportunity to share Julie’s story, and to share my story of surviving suicide loss.

I believe Julie’s spirit is with me in my advocacy. Prior to her death, at a time when she was feeling better, Julie created a website that urged people with depression to seek good mental health care and to affirm their lives. She would like to know that her life story has continued to spread that word.”

You can read Rick's full story in AFSP’s 2024 Annual Report, where you can also learn about the impactful work taking place across all our programs, events, partnerships, and initiatives.

It's been estimated that for each individual death by suicide, 135 people are directly and personally affected. In recognition of this number, we ask you to consider making a gift of $135 to help us reach our goal of a Million in May. And thanks to funds from a generous donor and dedicated AFSP volunteer, your gift will be matched dollar for dollar up to $100,000 for all donations made now through May 31.

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