The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is a non-profit organization that recognizes suicide and mental health issues as part of our society. By understanding this support you can reach out to those in need of education and those who are at risk. Suicide affects a huge number of people suffering from depression and their loved ones, but with proper education and treatment it can prevent many from committing suicide. In fact, according to Mental Health Business Week “Each year in the United States, suicide claims more than 40,000 lives – more than wars, homicides and natural disasters combined… Suicide is not just a faceless health problem for our society, but it affects real people" (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention 60). Therefore organizations such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention were established to assist. AFSP was founded in 1987, and is a leader in the fight against suicide by offering research, education and support to those individuals and their families affected by suicide. AFSP has funded research to better understand suicide risk, for example work done by Yair Ben-Efaim Ph.D. who focuses on psychiatry, genetic epidemiology and biostatics at the Weizmann Institute of Science found: “The cortisol response to psychosocial stress may become dysregulated in stress-related disorders. It is potentiated by pituitary secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which is, in part, regulated by arginine vasopressin receptor-1B (AVPR1B). anxiety disorders are at increased risk of suicide (Efraim et al.). The AFSP has also done a lot… halfway through the paper… taking action to help others,” Nock’s goal is to deconstruct suicide and help the AFSP (AFSP Annual Report 2014). Just for a while minute, think about a family member or friend who has been depressed. Now imagine if they are unable to control their emotions and enter what many call a “dark place” in their subconscious he may start to feel hopeless, unbearable pain, withdraw from social gatherings, and he may start to say things like “I have no reason to live anymore,” or he may ask “have you ever thought about what it might be like to die?” These are all signs of warning that something may not be right, and for those people who are unable to rely on these signs, the AFSP can offer information about the warning sign and how to talk to some. Simply by understanding what the early warning signs are, anyone can help save someone's life.