Advocacy

AFSP’s Policy and Advocacy Office in Washington, D.C., works with public officials, coalition partners, and a nationwide network of volunteer advocates to secure legislation, public policy, and programmatic funding that strengthen suicide prevention across the country. Through AFSP’s online Action Center and in-person events, like Advocacy Action Days, the annual Advocacy Forum, and the Capitol Hill Fly-In, advocates share their personal experiences and perspectives with public officials to help shape policies that save lives.

Updated every two years, AFSP’s Public Policy Priorities help advocates, partners, and public officials at all levels of government identify policy opportunities to promote suicide prevention and improve mental health.

Services and Care

Lethal Means Safety

Research and Infrastructure

Disproportionately Affected Communities and Populations

Now in our second year of implementing this framework, these priorities continue to guide AFSP's advocacy across a range of issues, including federal funding for critical mental health and suicide prevention programs, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, firearm suicide prevention, and veteran suicide prevention.

AFSP helped secure critical federal investments in suicide prevention and mental health services through the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations package. Congress increased funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by more than 3%, totaling $534.6 million, including $33.1 million to restore specialized “Press 3” services for LGBTQ+ youth, helping ensure that people in crisis can access timely, specialized support.

AFSP advocates were also instrumental in helping advance two Advocacy Forum priority bills into law:

• The Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act (S.106), a 2023 priority
• And the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act (H.R.929/S.266), a 2025 priority

Together, these measures strengthen support for veterans seeking service-connected benefits and expand access to mental healthcare for healthcare professionals.

At the state level, AFSP chapters celebrated the enactment of 38 bills supported at Advocacy Action Days in 23 states.

The new state laws will:

• Support the installation of suicide deterrent barriers at high-risk bridges and on state highways
• Promote increased awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by requiring 988 on student ID cards
• Enhance school personnel training in mental health awareness and parent involvement in lethal means safety efforts
• Expand mental health access within health and corrections systems
• And hold more health insurers accountable for adhering to mental health parity laws, among other advancements