Survivor Outreach Program
After a suicide, those left behind often:
Through AFSP's Survivor Outreach Program, trained local volunteers are on hand to:
A sympathetic ear and a helping hand. Most survivors who have met others who have also experienced suicide loss can attest to the power of this shared connection. It is often a fellow survivor who can recommend a book, connect someone to a support group or another resource, or simply provide reassurance.
How do I request an outreach visit? Contact your regional AFSP staff person using the phone number or email address listed below. Your AFSP staff person will ask you about your particular loss in order to match your request to a team of two trained volunteer survivors. Soon after, one of the members of the outreach team will contact you to schedule the visit at a convenient and comfortable location of your choice. The visit generally lasts about an hour.
I know someone who is newly bereaved. Can I request an outreach visit for this person? Please feel free to contact your regional AFSP staff person for more information about the program and share that information with anyone who needs it. But please understand that AFSP volunteers are only able to meet with bereaved families and friends who have personally requested a visit.
Is this a counseling service? No, this is not a mental health or counseling service. Outreach volunteers can provide information to the newly bereaved on how to find a qualified mental health professional.
The Survivor Outreach Program is being piloted through AFSP chapters in select cities throughout the U.S. Please click here to contact your local AFSP chapter for information about this and other programs for surviving suicide loss.
