Health (2011 Q3)

Featured beneficiary in the HEALTH category for third quarter 2011:

AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)  is the leading national not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy, and to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide.

To fully achieve its mission, AFSP engages in the following Five Core Strategies:

1. Funds scientific research
2. Offers educational programs for professionals
3. Educates the public about mood disorders and suicide prevention
4. Promotes policies and legislation that impact suicide and prevention
5. Provides programs and resources for survivors of suicide loss and people at risk, and involves them in the work of the Foundation

AFSP plays an active role in seeking to reduce suicide rates through initiating and participating in projects to develop, implement and evaluate innovative approaches to suicide prevention.

AFSP research grants support the work of investigators from all disciplines that contribute to our understanding of suicide and suicide prevention. Since 2000, AFSP has given grant support totaling over $10 million to scientists throughout the country and abroad for studies on neurobiological, genetic, epidemiological, clinical, psychological and sociological aspects of suicide. Since 2001, more than 85 percent of AFSP grantees have received further funding from public and private sources to continue their research. This shows that AFSP-funded research is making an impact, and is attracting young investigators to the field.