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Embracing-Suicide-Prevention-Awareness-Month-Connecting-the-Dots-between-Drugs-Alcohol-and

Suicide is a serious public health problem that can have lasting harmful effects on individuals, families, and communities. There are many factors that contribute to suicide. The goal of suicide prevention is to reduce factors that increase risk and increase factors that promote resilience. 

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  • Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States.

  • Suicide was responsible for over 49,000 deaths in 2022.

  • In 2022, an estimated 13.2 million adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.8 million made a plan, and 1.6 million attempted suicide.

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*Information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention*

RESOURCES

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline:

Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone. Call, text, chat, and ASL available 24/7/365. 

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Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network:

The Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN) is a statewide organization working tirelessly to eliminate the stigma of suicide. They offer FREE trainings specialized for audiences to detect warning and risk factors of suicide.

Volunteer Behavioral Health:

VBH is a leading nonprofit community behavioral health provider, offering a continuum of services to individuals including Regional Intervention Program, crisis services, peer recovery, psychiatric services, outpatient services, and more. 

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Tennessee REDLINE:

The Tennessee REDLINE is the 24/7/365 resource for people and their families looking for help for substance use disorder and substance misuse treatment referrals.  Anyone can call or text 800-889-9789 for confidential referrals. 

suicide and substance use

People with a Substance Use Disorder (SUD)  may also have other mental health disorders, and people with mental health disorders may also struggle with substance use. That does not mean that one caused the other. Research suggests three possibilities that could explain why SUDs and other mental disorders may occur together:

  1. Common risk factors can contribute to both SUDs and other mental disorders.

  2. Both SUDs and other mental disorders can run in families, meaning certain genes may be a risk factor.

  3. .Mental disorders can contribute to substance use and SUDs. 

  4. Brain changes in people with mental disorders may enhance the rewarding effects of substances, making it more likely they will continue to use the substance.

  5. Substance use and SUDs can contribute to the development of other mental disorders.

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