The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, also known as AFSP, provides awareness on suicide prevention and mental health conditions. This platform brings friends, family members, neighbors, and co-workers together over all 50 states. It’s a program that allows individuals to connect with others that may have been affected by suicide.
From Left to Right: Blake Sitton, Lt. Shelby Brown, Joshua Gibson, Chase Bedford, David Savelieff, and Charles Lake
Mission 22 published a challenge on social media asking for support through a fundraiser for their foundation. Their foundation’s focus is to provide various personalized resources to help Veterans and their families to thrive. Lt. Shelby Brown’s best friend, a veteran of the war in Iraq, is now a representative of the foundation and works at the branch in Bend. Lt. Brown is pursuing an opportunity to become an ambassador for the foundation.
Through the foundation’s Facebook page, there was a promotion for a fitness challenge to help bring awareness to the struggles of Veterans and their families and raise money for their foundation. The challenge was to have supporters donate money or challenge themselves to complete 2,200 push-ups to show their support of veterans lost or struggling, and the families affected by either, including the struggle to reacclimate to the home environment after being on duty for so long. Lt. Brown knew right away, she wanted to participate in this challenge, to show support for her best friend.
This article was written by the Oregon State Penitentiary’s Public Information Officer. With Memorial Day just around the corner, we thought this story was particularly inspirational and a good reminder of how we can remember the American service members we have lost.
The veteran memorial at the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem, OR
In a time where uncertainty and unrest are at the forefront of society, and communities are struggling to maintain alignment and unity with one another, individuals are still pushing forward, adapting to challenges, and finding creative ways to stay connected. For those struggling with mental illness, this is a greater challenge. For our nation’s veterans, this is an act of survival.
Like many of our facilities, Oregon State Correctional Institution (OSCI) recently partnered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to host their first Out of the Darkness walk, working to prevent and foster awareness around suicide. The walk provided OSCI’s adults in custody (AICs) and employees a space to discuss their experiences, express their grief, and learn about warning signs and prevention efforts.
Participants wore signs representing their motivation for walking in the event.
On June 28, Powder River Correctional Facility (PRCF) in Baker City held its very first Suicide Prevention Walk. Around 150 people participated in the walk, including adults in custody (AICs), institution staff, and contractors. Considering that Powder River is a fairly small facility, this is an incredible turnout!
AIC Pedro Perez speaks to SCI’s “Out of the Darkness” attendees as Dan Bielenberg, Shea May, and Ryan Price look on.
In early
2017, Santiam Correctional Institution (SCI) committed to build a partnership
with AFSP in an effort to educate and assist with funding and research to
reduce suicide in correctional settings. The American
Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) has been a leader in research and
reduction of Suicide in the United States since 1987. Thanks to
this partnership, SCI was the first correctional facility in the nation to host
such a suicide prevention walk!
