One of the top ten causes of death in the United States is suicide, which takes 50,000 people a year. Throughout September, which is National Suicide Prevention Month, organizations, agencies, and individuals devoted to mental health are grateful to have a recognized platform to tackle the stigma surrounding help-seeking for mental health challenges. In the best of all possible worlds, depression treatment would be readily available to all who need it.
At TruHealing Centers, we engage in suicide prevention every day by offering an effective, evidence-based dual diagnosis treatment program. To learn more about our treatment options for addiction, depression, and other co-occurring disorders that may put you at higher risk of suicide, reach out to us today. You can call [Direct] or fill out our online form to speak to a compassionate, knowledgeable staff member.
Warning Signs of Suicide
There are powerful links between addiction and suicide. Depression, PTSD, and other mental health challenges co-occur with addiction, fuel addictive behaviors, and lead to dangerous outcomes. Suicide is often a tragic outcome when symptoms go unrecognized and untreated.
Risk factors for suicide include:
- Alcohol and/or drug abuse
- A history that includes prior attempted suicide
- Family history of suicide
- Depression, anxiety, personality disorders, PTSD, and other mental health disorders
- Suicide clusters within one’s group or community
- History of abuse or trauma
- Job loss or major financial setbacks
- Relationship loss through death or other means
- Serious health challenges or diagnoses
When some of the risks combine with a lack of social support, extreme isolation, and no access to mental health treatment or addiction treatment, it is important to intervene, question, or offer supportive options to your loved one, or seek help for yourself, even though that may feel very difficult. Also, it’s crucial to be aware of the warning signs of suicide so you can recognize when a loved one is in crisis.
Warning signs of suicide include:
- Open talk about plans of suicide
- Possession of or access to the means to self-harm
- Increases in drug or alcohol use
- Fixation or focus on topics like hopelessness, feeling trapped, relentless psychic or physical pain
- Reckless behavior such as driving drunk
- Increasing withdrawal from other people
Share the Message of Suicide Prevention
National Suicide Prevention Month is a wonderful chance to amplify the messaging of help-seeking, stigma-bashing, and normalizing mental health as a piece of the whole health picture. Mental and physical health is part of the human experience in which wellness is the goal. No one chooses depression or addiction, just as no one chooses to be diabetic, arthritic, or allergic to peanuts.
How do we prevent suicide? No one person can make suicide go away. But we can all do things that can help people talk about their problems and get the help they need.
Some of the ways you can support a loved one include:
- Talk about your mental health journey openly to encourage others to do so.
- Make it clear to your loved one that you do not judge and that you are available to offer encouragement.
- Ask your loved ones direct questions when you are worried about their mental state – asking someone if they think of hurting themselves can waylay tragedy.
- Use social media to send messages of hope, provide tips for getting help, and keep mental health in the conversation among your friends and followers.
- Educate yourself about mental health and recovery treatment centers in your area so that you can offer practical information when and if the need arises.
Choose Dual Diagnosis Treatment at TruHealing Centers to Begin Healing
Honor National Suicide Prevention Month by taking the first step in getting help. At TruHealing Centers, we offer compassionate, evidence-based dual diagnosis care to help our clients address their addiction as well as their co-occurring mental health challenges. If you or a loved one may benefit from this type of care, reach out to our team today by calling [Direct] or completing our online form.