Approval of suicide-prevention bills, funding for Illinois Suicide Prevention Alliance, 988 Continuum of Care, and mental health care parity are key issues

SPRINGFIELD, IL (March 26, 2026) – The Illinois Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), one of the nation’s leading suicide research and prevention organizations, was joined today by legislators to urge approval of several suicide-prevention bills and to advocate for its priorities in Illinois during the ongoing legislative session.

The push to approve AFSP priorities is the central purpose of its 2026 Advocacy Day today at the Illinois State Capitol, where dozens of advocates are fanning out to meet with lawmakers urging them to support measures, policies, and initiatives that will help reduce suicide in Illinois.

“Suicide is a public health problem and a leading cause of death in the United States. Suicide can be prevented with more investment in suicide prevention, education, and research that will prevent the untimely deaths of thousands of Americans each year,” said AFSP Illinois Executive Director Angela Cummings.

“In Illinois, suicide is the third-leading cause of death for people age 15-34 and the fourth leading cause of death for ages 35-54,” she said, citing the most recent data (2023) from the Centers for Disease Control.

To address these issues, Cummings said AFSP Illinois has three key priorities: