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April 20, 2023 | Washington, DC – The American Association of
Suicidology (AAS), the world’s largest membership-based suicide prevention organization, has announced that Representative Michael Schlossberg is the recipient of the 2023 Transforming Lived Experience Award. The award was presented at the 56th Annual AAS Conference in Portland, Oregon.
“We received more than sixty submissions from across the world for 2023 Annual Awards and we could not be prouder of this year’s winners,” said AAS President & CEO Leeann Sherman, MPS, CAE. “I am happy to present Representative Michael Schlossberg with the 2023 Transforming Lived Experience Award. He continues to be an amazing advocate for mental health in the state of Pennsylvania to which I am thrilled to reside in and have him as a leader in the commonwealth.”
Mr. Schlossberg represents the 132nd District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. In November 2022, he was re-elected for his sixth term and for the 2023-2024 session, he was elected Majority Caucus Chair. To address Pennsylvania’s mental health care crisis, Representative Schlossberg laid out his agenda, “HOPE for PA,” in 2022. This would invest $100 million in public safety by creating safe and healthy communities, improve care by addressing provider and capacity shortages and help more people through training, education, and outreach. Shortly after, Governor Wolf signed the 2022-2023 budget approving an additional $100 million to improve mental health care in Pennsylvania.
The Transforming Lived Experience Award acknowledges a person who has survived his or her own suicidal experiences and transformed their pain into suicide prevention and recovery efforts. It is intended to recognize significant accomplishments in suicide prevention, intervention, advocacy, and/or recovery that embodies the mission of AAS.
About American Association of Suicidology
The American Association of Suicidology is the world’s largest membership- based suicide prevention organization. Founded in 1968 by Edwin S. Shneidman, PhD, AAS promotes the research of suicide and its prevention, public awareness programs, public education and training for professionals and volunteers. The membership of AAS includes mental health and public health professionals, researchers, suicide prevention and crisis intervention centers, school districts, crisis center professionals, survivors of suicide loss, attempt survivors, and a variety of laypersons who have an interest in suicide prevention. Learn more about AAS at www.suicidology.org.
Responsible reporting on suicide, including stories of hope and resilience, can prevent more suicides and open the door for help for those in need. Visit the Media as Partners in Suicide Prevention: Suicide Reporting Recommendations for more details. For additional information, visit SuicideReportingToolkit.com and Stanford University’s Media and Mental Health Initiative. For crisis services anywhere in the world, visit FindAHelpline.org and in the continental United States chat, text or call 988.
Information provided to TVL by:
Tom Andrews
House Democratic Communications Office
