BivWack Outdoors Supports Suicide Prevention with AFSP Partnership

BivWack Outdoors, an adventure advocate and supplier of outdoor equipment, has joined forces with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to help champion awareness and research to aid those suffering from mental health crises.

With the new partnership, BivWack will donate 15% of proceeds from all pack sales to AFSP and support Hike for Hope programs. AFSP’s Hike for Hope creates an opportunity to generate awareness for suicide prevention, all while raising funds and encouraging essential conversations.

Suicide prevention and awareness is a passion of BivWack Outdoors founder Michael L. Brown Jr. Data from AFSP indicates that 67% of people are touched by suicide at some point in their lifetime and Brown is eager to play a role in lowering this number.

“I believe that taking an open and compassionate approach is the only way to reduce the number of people who are impacted by suicide,” Brown said. “BivWack Outdoors is ardent about creating awareness and improving mental wellness and I hope our AFSP partnership illustrates that.”

More than 46,000 individuals lost their lives to suicide in 2020. Statics from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) indicate that 1 in 5 U.S. adults suffer from mental illness. Forty-six percent of those who die by suicide have a known mental health condition. These staggering numbers indicate the importance of suicide prevention initiatives.

Suicide warning signs include:

  • Withdrawal from friends and family
  • Increased consumption of alcohol or drugs
  • Wreckless and aggressive behavior
  • Dramatic mood swings

Help is available to those struggling with a mental health crisis and suicidal ideation. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to get help for you or a loved one.