As suicide continues to be a leading cause of death in the U.S., our members of Congress must make suicide prevention and mental health a national priority. Access to timely, affordable, and quality crisis services can save lives.

I lost my sister-in-law, Lindy Hinds LaBarre in July 2013. I saw the effects of this loss first hand. My brother struggled, we all did. I thought, if I can help one family to not experience the same sadness we did then it’s all worth it.

That is why, on June 6-7, I participated in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)’s 13th Annual Advocacy Forum with fellow advocates from across the country. Together, we met virtually with our U.S. Senators and Representatives and asked them to support:

• Grants to expand suicide prevention trainings, assessment, and screenings in Emergency Departments (H.R. 1324 /S. 467).

• Standards for a behavioral health crisis care response system to guide health care providers and communities in responding to individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis (S. 1902/H.R. 5611).

• Funding for the implementation of the 988 number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and crisis response system (H.R. 7116).

In our meetings, I was the voice for many individuals in our state who have been affected by suicide and mental health. I was joined and supported by a passionate group of AFSP advocates, leading the ever-growing movement of people who are speaking out about these issues. Together, we became the face, the name, the story, and the reason our members of Congress should support this lifesaving legislation. Join us by contacting your members of Congress and urging them to prioritize suicide prevention through the AFSP Action Center (afsp.org/actioncenter).