Black-led suicide prevention program earns national recognition
A suicide prevention program developed with Black mental health experts has reached nearly 6,000 people and earned national recognition.
A conversation about suicide can be difficult to start. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is working to make that conversation easier in Black communities by putting people with shared experience at the front of the room.
Its L.E.T.S. Save Lives program was added in September to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s Best Practices Registry. The 90-minute presentation teaches adults how to recognize warning signs, talk with someone in distress and connect that person with help. L.E.T.S. stands for Listening, Empathy, Trust and Support.
The program has reached nearly 6,000 people since its 2024 launch, including more than 2,400 participants at over 75 events from July 2025 through June 2026. In surveys taken after presentations, 98% of respondents said they felt confident recognizing suicide warning signs, a 13% increase from before they attended. The surveys measure confidence; they do not establish whether the program has reduced suicide deaths.
Federal researchers found that suicide rates among non-Hispanic Black Americans rose from 2018 through 2023, even as the overall U.S. rate remained relatively stable. The foundation reported a 3.4% decline in the Black suicide rate from 2023 to 2024.
L.E.T.S. Save Lives was developed with an advisory committee that included Black mental health experts, clinicians, researchers, people who have lost someone to suicide and people with lived experience. Trained presenters discuss cultural and systemic factors, sources of support and practical ways to help someone in distress. The presentation is open to anyone 18 or older and can be offered in person or virtually.
The registry reviews approved programs for safe messaging, procedures for addressing immediate risk and evidence that they meet their stated goals. Community organizations interested in hosting L.E.T.S. Save Lives can contact a local American Foundation for Suicide Prevention chapter.
If you or someone you know needs support, call or text 988. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free, confidential help around the clock.
