This Volunteer Spotlight story originally appeared in AFSP's 2024 Annual Report. To read other inspiring Volunteer Spotlight stories, and to learn more about our work, click here.
Rick Townsend is a psychologist and professor who has long been active in mental health advocacy. Julia, his daughter, suffered a stroke at birth, and experienced a lifelong struggle with depression. She was married and living in another state in 2001 when a severe episode of depression resulted in her suicide. Six years later, in addition to bringing more Community Walks to his area, Rick has become a Volunteer Advocate for AFSP. Rick has met with lawmakers in Tallahassee and in Washington, D.C., advocating for governmental support for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and other mental health legislation.
In 2023, Rick represented AFSP as a speaker for Behavioral Health Day at Florida’s State Capitol, an annual event where advocates and leaders gather to raise awareness of mental health and substance use disorder services in the state.
“Julie’s death was the hardest experience in my life. As a psychologist, I knew talking can be healing; that a balance of openness and boundaries is healthy; and that having support systems is essential. Prior to losing my daughter, I listened supportively and with some understanding to people who had experienced great loss. But the depth of my understanding is now so much deeper. Today, I can laugh and feel happy, but the tears still come when I fully feel the memories of my daughter’s death.
My motivation as an AFSP Volunteer Advocate is the hope that the things we do will prevent other families from going through that long dark night we experienced. Advocacy has given me lots of opportunity to share Julie’s story, and to share my story of surviving suicide loss.
When I spoke at Florida’s Behavioral Health Day, I talked about the numbers of Floridians who’d died. Maybe it was the Veteran you thanked for their service; maybe the police officer you saw running toward danger. Maybe it was the physician resident you saw in the ER, or the grandfather who was alone. Maybe it was the construction worker, the dentist, or the teenager. Those of us who are survivors of suicide loss know how each death impacts so many others. The more we advocate and speak from personal experience, the more we can inspire change.
I believe Julie’s spirit is with me in my advocacy. Prior to her death, at a time when she was feeling better, Julie created a website that urged people with depression to seek good mental health care and to affirm their lives. She would like to know that her life story has continued to spread that word.”