Sonja Chrysler

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP offers a personal support for survivors of suicide. The outreach program is called Healing Conversations, formerly known as the Survivor Outreach Program. It gives those who have lost someone to suicide the opportunity to talk with our experienced volunteers. These AFSP volunteers, who are themselves survivors of suicide loss, offer understanding and guidance in the weeks and months following a suicide death.

Available in person, on the phone, or by video chat, our volunteers are familiar with the isolation that so often accompanies a death of this kind and are able to show suicide loss survivors a way forward into a world of support by creating an opportunity for the newly-bereaved to speak openly with, and ask questions of, someone who has been there, too, and truly gets it.

When someone contacts us to request a conversation, we will ask them some questions about their loss, so that we may match them with a suitable volunteer who has experienced a similar loss. Their peer support volunteer will contact them to schedule a conversation at a convenient time and in the case of in-person visits, at a comfortable location of the person’s choice.

If you have questions or would like to connect with us directly, please contact [email protected].