September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Understanding the issues around suicide and mental health is an important way to take part in suicide prevention. Helping others who may be in crisis can make a difference and save lives.

• Research shows that people having thoughts of suicide feel relief when someone asks after them in a caring, non-judgmental way. It’s important to ask, “Are you thinking about hurting yourself?”
• Reduce a suicidal person’s access to lethal items. While it’s not always easy, asking if the at-risk person has a plan, and removing firearms or medications, will help.
• Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 via call or text and/or make a connection with a trusted person like a family member, friend, spiritual advisor or mental health professional.
• Keeping in touch with the at-risk person after a crisis or discharge from treatment can help reduce that person’s risk.

September is National Recovery Month! During September, Stamp Out Stigma is taking this opportunity to discuss substance use disorder recovery. We will be highlighting the importance of speaking openly about recovery and finding treatment, since there is still stigma associated with mental illness and addiction. It’s our job to help end the stigma surrounding mental health by sharing resources and starting conversations.

Throughout the month of September, we encourage family, friends, and loved ones to learn more about mental illness and substance use disorder and what resources are available to help those find treatment.

Here are some important facts you should know:

• 32.1% of U.S. adults with mental illness also experienced a substance use disorder in 2020 (17 million individuals).
• According to research that tracks individuals in treatment over extended periods, most people who get into and remain in treatment stop using drugs and improve their occupational, social, and psychological functioning.
• Relapse rates for addiction resemble those of other chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma.
• 50% of individuals with eating disorders have a substance use disorder, a rate five times higher than the general population.
• Up to 35% of individuals who were dependent on alcohol or other drugs have also had eating disorders, a rate 11 times greater than the general population. 

Visit MagellanHealthcare.com/about/bh-resources/mymh or call your program for confidential mental health resources.