Surviving Suicide Loss
AFSP reaches out to survivors of suicide with two goals in mind:
AFSP works closely with support group facilitators, first responders, clergy members, mental health professionals and others in the community, to help survivors cope with their loss, their pain, their questions and their journey of healing. In addition, AFSP has taken the leading role in developing an agenda for research on survivors of suicide loss.
AFSP's national survivor leadership includes Director of Survivor Initiatives Joanne Harpel; a 15-member national survivor council comprised of survivors from across the country representing diverse relationship losses and backgrounds and numerous current and founding members of AFSP's national board of directors. (For a current list of survivor council members, click here.) Survivors also serve in a variety of field staff and volunteer positions with local AFSP chapters. And each year in connection with the annual Lifesavers Dinner, AFSP bestows a Survivor Award on an individual survivor who has made an especially meaningful contribution to the field.
