Public policy events

The Advocacy Forum brings together AFSP Volunteer Advocates from across the country to make their voices heard for suicide prevention and mental health. View the 2024 Advocacy Forum webpage.

AFSP Advocates are joined by members of Congress, policy experts, and others impacted by suicide and mental health to learn about the federal policy changes and legislation that can save lives. As part of the Advocacy Forum, AFSP chapter representatives meet with members of Congress and their staff to share their stories and speak about AFSP’s legislative priorities that need support.

Learn how you can make an impact for the policy areas that need support by signing up as an AFSP Volunteer Advocate.

Each spring, AFSP chapters across the country host State Capitol Day events to bring advocates and state officials together to talk about how we can work together to prevent suicide and increase access to mental health care. 

As part of our State Capitol Day events, advocates have the opportunity to meet with their legislators and speak about legislative and policy issues that need support in their respective state. Because of these personal connections between advocates and lawmakers, state bills have been enacted that now ban the practice of conversion therapy, require suicide prevention policies and personnel training in K-12 schools, increase suicide prevention on college and university campuses, require insurance plans to treat mental health and physical health equally, and create statewide suicide prevention offices and task forces. Many thanks to our advocates who make their voices heard each year at State Capitol Day events!

Find State Capitol Day events by visiting our Program Calendar.