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City proclaims September 2025 Suicide Prevention Week; American Foundation for Suicide Prevention urges resources and outreach
Summary
The council presented a proclamation to American Foundation for Suicide Prevention volunteers Adriana Avila and Kelly Manning and heard from chapter representatives about community education, the 988 hotline and upcoming AFSP walks.
The Duarte City Council on Aug. 26 presented a proclamation declaring September 2025 as Suicide Prevention Week and received remarks from Adriana Avila and Kelly Manning of the Greater Los Angeles and Central Coast chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
The nut graf: the proclamation highlights national and state statistics on suicide cited in the resolution and urges local awareness, outreach and use of resources; visiting AFSP volunteers described local education and peer-support referrals they provide and publicized upcoming awareness walks.
Adriana Avila, introduced as a board member and education committee chair and volunteer with the AFSP chapter, said she provides community education and Spanish-language materials. "I do a lot of education out in the community. I do advocacy work in Sacramento, D.C.," Avila said. Kelly Manning, a fundraising manager and longtime volunteer who described personal family experience supporting a loved one, highlighted chapter programs and the Old Town Pasadena walk on Nov. 8. Manning advised residents that 988 remains a 24/7 national behavioral-health hotline and said AFSP partners with local agencies such as NAMI and Didi Hirsch to connect callers to peer and clinical resources.
The proclamation text cited national 2023 statistics (CDC), including that suicide was the 11th leading cause of death overall and the second leading cause for ages 10 to 34, and referenced California data and the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. The presenters encouraged residents to use 988 and to attend chapter events; social-service referrals and digital flyers were requested for local outreach.
Ending: Councilmembers thanked the guests and asked staff to accept digital materials for public distribution; the proclamation photo followed the presentation.
