This article discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call, text, or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.
You are enough. You matter.
Your life is worth fighting for. Suicide is a leading cause of death in America. Suicide is an urgent and growing public health crisis. More than 49,000 people in the United States died by suicide in 2022. That’s one death every 11 minutes.
“The stark reality is that despite significant advancements in the field, suicide rates in the United States continue to rise,” wrote US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy in his preface to the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention paper. “Suicide rates increased by 12.7 percent from 2012 to 2022, with brief declines in 2019 and 2020.”
Suicide takes an enormous toll on families, friends, caregivers, and communities across our nation. “We must do more to prevent these tragic deaths and build healthier, more connected communities,” Dr. Murthy wrote. “Progress is possible, and it cannot come soon enough. I urge leaders and communities to join this vital effort to prevent suicide. Together, we can create a future where support, hope, and well-being are within reach for everyone.”
SUICIDE IS PREVENTABLE
September is National Suicide Prevention Month—a time to remember the lives lost to suicide, acknowledge the millions more who have experienced suicidal thoughts, and the many individuals, families, and communities that have been impacted by suicide. It’s also a time to raise awareness about suicide prevention and share messages of hope.
During September, and throughout the year, we can care about suicide prevention; connect to community, culture, data, and research; and collaborate with others to address this public health problem that has impacted millions of Americans.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Suicide touches whole communities. Each person who dies by suicide leaves behind people who knew that person, along with the impact of suicide and the bereavement that follows. Everyone can play a role in preventing suicide.
Learn how to recognize the warning signs when someone’s at risk—and what actions you can take if you believe someone may be in danger of suicide.
If you believe someone may be in danger of suicide, you can
- Call 911, if danger of self-harm seems imminent.
- Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to talk to a caring professional.
- Ask them if they are thinking about killing themselves. This will not put the idea into their head or make it more likely that they will attempt suicide.
- Listen without judging and show you care.
- Stay with the person or make sure the person is in a private, secure place with another caring person until you can get further help.
- Remove any objects that could be used in a suicide attempt.
THE LONELINESS CRISIS
A major reason for the crisis is disconnection. “We live in a world where we don’t have time for community,” The Blanchard Institute’s founder and CEO Ward Blanchard recently said in a webinar, reminding his audience of former times when neighbors met on their front porches. “It’s a life of connection we just don’t have anymore.” Technology had a major impact here. “We are the most connected/disconnected society ever,” he said.
This lack of genuine connection kills. In May 2023, Dr. Murthy warned that “widespread loneliness in the US poses health risks as deadly as smoking up to 15 cigarettes daily. About half of US adults say they’ve experienced loneliness.”
In 2015, Princeton economists Anne Case and Angus Deaton argued that middle-aged white Americans without a college degree were now facing “deaths of despair”—suicide, overdoses from drugs and alcohol, and alcohol-related liver disease. They suggested that distress caused by globalization and rapid technological change probably drove those deadly outcomes. Middle-aged whites are now more likely than their predecessors to report pain and mental health problems and are experiencing symptoms of alcoholism at a younger age.
Loneliness, disconnection from a life of purpose, and relentless stress have had a devastating impact on the lives of ordinary Americans, many of whom are driven to self-medicate their despair with drugs and alcohol. Modern addiction treatment needs to address all of these circumstances and co-occurring mental health issues, treating the whole person in their social environment to be effective.
Blanchard offers a variety of flexible treatment options that can accommodate your individual needs. Our gender-specific continuum of care includes a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), regular outpatient treatment, recovery management (RM), and a withdrawal management program. We provide the structure, support, and education clients and their families need for long-term recovery.
If you or someone you know needs addiction treatment, come on down and visit us during our open house, or call (704) 368-0776. Our experienced admissions specialists will guide you through treatment options with the dignity and compassion you deserve.