On June 10 I will be traveling to Washington, D.C. along with more than 225 American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) advocates from all 50 states to meet with our congressmen and senators, urging them to support suicide prevention and mental health legislation.
Together we are standing up, speaking out and seeking improvements in five key areas that would play a vital role in preventing suicide and improving mental health across the country: increased funding for suicide prevention research; insurance coverage for mental health and substance use conditions; military and veteran suicide prevention; preservation of funding for suicide prevention programs; and increased funding for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-TALK) and Crisis Centers.
I lost my father and brother to suicide, and I live with bipolar disorder, so this cause is very personal for me.
I have dedicated my time to educating others about suicide prevention and mental health. In meeting with members of Congress, it’s our collective goal to effect real change in our government and further our mission to stop suicide.
Let’s make mental health as important as physical health and continue to bring hope to those affected by suicide.
Sara K. Scofield
Eugene
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519
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