Press contact: Chris Maxwell, Communications Coordinator

Washington, D.C. (August 23, 2019): Following last year’s incredibly popular #AAS365 campaign, The American Association of Suicidology (AAS) announced today that its campaign to recognize National Suicide Prevention Month and Week will again focus on awareness and education every day of the year. For this year’s campaign, AAS has collaborated with several large, national agencies ranging from veterans groups, and law enforcement agencies, to celebrities, legislators, and documentary filmmakers. AAS is especially excited to collaborate with Rachel Bloom, creator and star of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, to help amplify the message of suicide prevention.

 “The amazing people at the AAS are working hard to both change and save lives and I’m honored to help their cause in any way that I can,” said Rachel Bloom.

By focusing on suicide prevention during the 365 days of every year, AAS is empowering the nearly 7 million people directly affected by suicide annually, the 1.5 million who attempt suicide each year, and the tens of millions impacted by it, to continue to advocate for its prevention, collaborate for effective change, and produce impactful, peer-created content all year long. #AAS365 is about giving  the power of resiliency and healing back to loss and attempt survivors, families, friends, and loved ones, allowing them to directly participate in changing the culture around suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. 

“The scale and reach of suicide is too large to ignore any longer – at local, regional, and national levels,”said Colleen Creighton, Executive Director of AAS. “Nearly every state in the country has seen increases in the number of suicides in the last two decades. We’ve spent too much time neglecting an overburdened system and it’s time to address the crisis knocking on our front door.”

Suicide killed over 47,000 people in 2017 in the United States, is the 10th leading cause of death nationally, and is the 2nd leading cause of death for youth aged 10-24. 

Confirmed Events Scheduled for September:

• Launch of the new National Center for the Prevention of Youth Suicide
• Launch of campaign with Rachel Bloom 
• “Badass Rebels of Suicide Prevention” Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) – September 10, 1 p.m. Eastern
• Release of the National Guidelines for Workplace Suicide Prevention
• Release of Special Virtual Issue of Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior Journal: Firearms and Suicide
• Scattering CJ Film World Premiere – Camden International Film Festival – September 14
  • In collaboration with AAS #TeamCJ will offer a mental health bootcamp following the documentary screening. It will be the first-ever mental health training/suicide prevention training to take place at film festival. Open to all, this will be a proactive gathering  to boost awareness and encourage healthy practices. 
• Facebook Live Events
  • Rachel Bloom
  • Stack Up – September 11, 1 p.m. Eastern
  • American Legion – In conjunction with live, in-person panel of veterans suicide loss survivors – September 12, 2 p.m. Eastern
  • All-day expert interviews for National Physician Suicide Awareness Day – September 17
• And much more to be announced…

The #AAS365 campaign site features resources for suicide prevention groups, organizations, and media professionals across the country, encouraging them to participate in National Suicide Prevention Month activities. There are shareable social media graphics and a section to post information about local activities.

For the Media: Responsible reporting on suicide, including stories of hope and resilience, can prevent more suicides. Please visit the Suicide Reporting Recommendations for more information.

About AAS: Founded in 1968 by Edwin S. Shneidman, PhD, AAS promotes the research of suicide and its prevention, public awareness programs, public education and training for professionals and volunteers. The membership of AAS includes mental health and public health professionals, researchers, suicide prevention and crisis intervention centers, school districts, crisis center volunteers, survivors of suicide loss, attempt survivors, and a variety of lay persons who have in interest in suicide prevention.

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