AFSP Allocates $9.47M to Suicide Prevention Research Amid Federal Funding Cuts
Event summary
- AFSP announced 29 new research grants totaling $9.47M, bringing its total research investment to over $100M since 1987.
- Grants focus on treatments for suicidal adolescents, suicide clusters, Indigenous youth prevention, ketamine-CBT combinations, and cannabis use risks.
- AFSP and The Jed Foundation (JED) plan to merge, forming AFSP/JED to expand suicide prevention efforts.
- AFSP advocates for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, proven to reduce suicide attempts by 88.1% among callers.
The big picture
AFSP's $9.47M research investment underscores its role as the largest private funder of suicide prevention research, filling gaps left by federal funding cuts. The planned merger with JED aims to create a more comprehensive suicide prevention nonprofit, leveraging AFSP's research and advocacy with JED's youth mental health programs. This strategic move comes as public health disruptions heighten the need for scalable, evidence-based interventions.
What we're watching
- Research Impact
- How AFSP-funded studies will advance suicide prevention tools and treatment options.
- Merger Execution
- Whether the AFSP/JED merger can successfully integrate research, advocacy, and youth mental health programs.
- Funding Sustainability
- The pace at which AFSP can secure private funding amid federal cuts to support ongoing research.
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