Treatment Blog Category: Mental Health

World Suicide Prevention Day is Saturday, September 10. Each September, the globe gathers to raise awareness on suicide prevention and honor those who were taken too soon by suicide.

Sponsored by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), this initiative aims to build an effective forum with collaboration among global partners and promoting evidence-based action to reduce suicide rates.

The tragic effects of suicide impact everyone around the world – no matter where you live. Here are some key statistics showing the global magnitude of suicide:

1. Each year, more than 700,000 lives are lost around the world due to suicide.
2. Over one in every 100 deaths were caused by suicide.
3. Suicide is the fourth-leading cause of death globally among individuals ages 15-29.
4. The global suicide rate is twice as high among men than women.
5. The U.S. ranks 23rd among countries with the highest suicide rates.
6. A previous suicide attempt is the biggest risk factor for suicide deaths.

Many citizens of the world experience adverse situations such as violence, abuse, loss, disaster, discrimination, isolation and more. These difficult and trying situations can increase instances of behavioral health disorders and in turn, are associated with suicidal behaviors.

Over the past few decades, the state of mental health across the globe has hit a significant point in history. The number of suicide deaths have risen by 20,000 over the past 30 years around the world.

With each nation suffering from rates of suicide, many countries are advocating for improved access to critical mental healthcare. The U.S. took a significant stride in preventing suicide in July 2022 by launching 988, the easy-to-dial three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. With the rollout of the new number, the U.S. started on a path to streamline critical care for those in crisis and decrease instances of suicide.

Although we must raise awareness all year long to make a change, World Suicide Prevention Day is a chance for everyone around the world to come together to save lives. This year, the theme for World Suicide Prevention Day is “Creating Hope Through Action”.

“By encouraging understanding, reaching in, and sharing experiences, we want to give people the confidence to take action. To prevent suicide requires us to become a beacon of light to those in pain. You can be the light.”

The IASP encourages all to be compassionate, supporting, and understanding to individuals who have experienced the pain of suicidal thoughts and losing a loved one to suicide. By coming together to listen and share, we can all make a difference and spark change.

If someone you love is experiencing thoughts of suicide, your support could truly save their life. Follow these five action steps to communicate with someone who may be suicidal to help them get the care they need and prevent suicide:

1. Ask – Be transparent and ask your loved one if they have thoughts of suicide. Have a direct dialogue can help your loved one open about their emotional pain. Carefully listen to their answers and ask thoughtful follow-up questions.
2. Be there – Calling or physically being with your loved one can greatly show your support. Following through with promises of being there for your loved one can improve your connection with them and prevent them from feeling isolated.
3. Keep them safe –As difficult as it is to ask questions about your loved one’s suicidal thoughts, it can help keep them as safe as possible. Create a proactive plan to reduce access to lethal means to ensure they are out of immediate danger. Always call 911 if there is an imminent threat to their well-being.
4. Help them connect – Establishing a safety plan and finding crisis care for a suicidal person is critical. Connect your loved one with resources such as the 988 Lifeline or other mental health professionals to help them get the support they need.
5. Follow up – After you have the initial conversation and create an immediate safety plan, follow up with your loved one to see if they are well. A phone call, text, letter, or in-person visit with your loved one will remind them they are loved and cared for.

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to get connected to crisis care immediately. You do not have to fight this alone.

By giving vital support to those who need it, we can truly make a change and prevent suicide worldwide. During this World Suicide Prevention Day, you can do your part by destigmatizing mental health issues and raising awareness for suicide prevention. With your help, the world could save millions of lives.

If you or a loved one are seeking mental health or substance use disorder treatment, we can help. Use our free Treatment Connection assessment tool to find state-vetted behavioral health treatment in your area.

DISCLAIMER: THIS BLOG POST DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material (collectively, “Information”) contained on this blog post are for informational purposes only. None of the Information is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog post.

In this day and age, we all lead incredibly busy lives. Trying to balance your job, family, friends, pets, home, health, hobbies, and other responsibilities can become overwhelming.

As if life wasn’t already stressful enough, the COVID-19 pandemic brought on even more mental health challenges due to social isolation and changes in routine. According to the 2021 Global Emotions Report, the world was more stressed-out than it was any time in the past 15 years.

The 2020 Stress in America™ Report from the American Psychological Association (APA) found nearly 78% adults said the COVID-19 pandemic was a significant source of stress in their lives, and 67% of adults said they experienced increased stress levels during the pandemic.

The report also found a variety of societal issues caused a large percentage of Americans a significant amount of stress:

The future of the U.S. – 77%
Health care – 66%
Mass shootings – 62%
Climate change/global warming – 55%
Suicide rates – 51%
Immigration – 47%
Widespread sexual harassment/assault reports in the news – 47%
Opioid/heroin epidemic – 45%

Personal issues that an individual deals with every day can also add a great deal of stress to life. About 90% of Americans are stressed about their finances, and about 80% stress over their jobs.

Stress can have a great impact on not only your mental health, but your physical health as well. When you’re feeling especially stressed, you may notice you feel fatigued, or even snap at those around you without meaning to. An accumulation of stress can take a major toll on your mind and body.

Mental and physical signs of stress include:

Anxiety
Irritability
Depression
Panic attacks
Mood swings
Trouble sleeping
Headaches
Dizziness
High blood pressure
Chest pain or high heart rate
Tense muscles
Digestive problems

These symptoms are not ideal and can impede your daily responsibilities and overall happiness. In some situations, stress can also lead to substance use, eating disorders, smoking, gambling, and other issues.

Some days it may seem impossible to eliminate what is making you stressed and to find a way to relax. Thankfully, there are strategies you can adopt to reframe what is making you feel stressed.

The first step in alleviating stressors in your life is to identify them. Becoming more mindful to what triggers your stress can help you find the root of the problem. Do you get anxious when thinking about your finances? Is your job so demanding that you’re losing sleep and feel irritable? If so, they may be the main stressors in your life.

According to the University of Minnesota, one of the best ways to deal with stressors is to adjust your attitude. When dealing with stress, we can become very negative, which can be detrimental to effectively dealing with stressful situations. By reframing your mindset and viewing stressors as challenges and not threats, you can cope with stress in a more effective way.

“You can’t get rid of [unhealthy] stress altogether, that would be great if you could, but you can learn to manage it effectively,”
–Angela Ficken, psychotherapist

Follow these steps to adjust your attitude when dealing with stressful situations:

When you feel stressed, remind yourself you have the resources to tackle this situation’s challenge.
Conversely, accept that there are some things you can’t change – don’t stress about things you can’t control.
Avoid being angry or combative and voice your assertive beliefs, opinions, and/or feelings.
When tackling a large task, divide responsibilities into smaller tasks to avoid becoming overwhelmed.
Create your schedule wisely and allow time for interruptions or change.
Research ways to eliminate stress such as therapy, yoga, walking, or writing in a journal.

Resetting how you view stressful situations can help you deal with them in a more effective way, helping you feel more at-ease when problem solving. Over time, identifying your stressors and mindfully reframing or eliminating them can have a better impact on your mental and physical well-being.

If you are searching for mental health or substance use disorder treatment, we can help. Visit Treatment Connection to find a treatment provider in your area.

DISCLAIMER: THIS BLOG POST DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material (collectively, “Information”) contained on this blog post are for informational purposes only. None of the Information is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog post.

During the month of May, we recognize Mental Health Awareness Month. Since 1949, this awareness initiative aims to provide support for individuals with mental illness and to educate the public on the importance of behavioral health.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), nearly 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. are living with mental illness. About half of the estimated 52.9 million individuals living with mental health conditions also suffer from substance use disorders of drugs and alcohol. This epidemic hit an all-time high last year as the number of drug overdose-related deaths was over 105,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Unfortunately, many people may feel uncomfortable seeking help due to the stigma surrounding behavioral health issues. By coming together to destigmatize mental illness and showing support for those living with behavioral health issues, we can help millions of people get the treatment they deserve.

Some initiatives aiming to ease the behavioral health crisis include increased research for substance use prevention, better access to treatment, and improved crisis care. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) supports research to find ways to prevent substance use. As awareness for mental health increases, the availability of treatment options expands. And the new National Suicide Prevention Lifeline phone number, 988, will roll out in July 2022 to connect individuals in emergency situations with life-saving mental health care.

These are only a handful of large initiatives to make mental health treatment more accessible. We, as individuals, can make a great impact on this movement by helping our own loved ones get the behavioral health treatment they need.

Some ways we can support and advocate for our family and friends struggling with their mental health include:

• Express your concern in a gentle manner. Talking about mental health can be emotional. Don’t make any judgements to keep your loved one comfortable during a sensitive conversation.
• Be a good listener. Ask your loved one questions and listen carefully when they tell their story.
• Tell them you care about them. Letting your loved ones know you care about them, and their healing, can go a long way.
• Ask if you can find help. Many people may feel uncomfortable in taking the first step to find treatment. Having a friend can be very helpful during this process.
• Be aware of triggers. Individuals with behavioral health issues such as substance use disorders or anxiety may have certain triggers that impact their actions and emotions deeply. Being mindful of these triggers can support them during treatment.
• Watch for behavioral changes. If your loved one is exhibiting signs of anxiety, depression, anger, lethargy, or social isolation, check up on them to see if they need help.
• Check in on them during recovery. Behavioral health treatment can take time, so it’s important to let your loved one know they have your support throughout the entire journey.

In addition to supporting those close to you, you can also participate in Mental Health Awareness Month activities with the online community. Rallying together to tell our own stories and advocate for change can make a huge impact on society.

You can share your support for Mental Health Awareness Month by:

• Sharing your personal story online with #Together4MH
• Volunteering for advocacy events in your community
• Attending virtual webinars through the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI)
• Advocating for mental health policy change with #Vote4MentalHealth

Mental Health Awareness Month is a time for us to reflect on the behavioral health crisis. By working together, we can do our part in improving access to treatment and destigmatizing mental illness.

Remember: you are not alone in this fight. It is never too late to get help. If you or a loved one is ready to seek behavioral health treatment, use the free Treatment Connection assessment tool to find treatment options near you.