• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
anaheimlighthouse.com

Your Beacon of Hope!

Questions? Call Now(877) 959-5909
  • About Us
  • What We Treat
  • Treatment Options
  • Our Facility
  • Admissions
  • Learn About
  • Contact Us
  • Our Team
  • Awards & Recognitions
  • Yelp & Google Reviews
  • Client Testimonials
  • Accreditation & Licensing
  • Employment Opportunities
  • Press Releases
  • Alchohol Abuse
  • Drug Addiction
  • Dual Diagnosis
  • Trauma Victims
  • Veterans Program
  • Holistic Treatment
  • Specialties
  • Detox Alcohol & Drugs
  • Drug Rehab
  • Inpatient Rehab
  • Complete Residential Care
  • Partial Hospitalization
  • Intensive Outpatient
  • Intervention
  • Family Support
  • Verify Insurance
  • Financing Options
  • Coronavirus Safety Procedures
  • Alcoholism
  • Health and Wellness
  • Life in Recovery
  • Love and Relationships
  • Opioid Addiction
  • Parent Resources
  • Relapse and Recovery
  • Substance Abuse
  • Opioids
  • Sleeping Pills
  • Stimulants

Suicide Prevention Month: What You Can Do to Help Save A Life

Sep 3 2019
Categories:Health and Wellness

September is National Suicide Prevention Month and everyone is encouraged to take part in helping save a life. While there have been numerous campaigns designed to combat and prevent suicide, it remains as a public health concern that plague many families. In fact, suicide is one of the topmost causes of deaths in America, especially among young adults.

There are different reasons why people commit suicide. The entire plot of the controversial Netflix TV Series “13 Reasons Why” is all about the reasons why the main character took her own life- ranging from depression, school gossip, bullying, heartbreak, and guilt. While depression and other mental health problems are the primary reasons why people commit suicide, substance abuse also plays a major role in increasing suicide rates.

Contact Us Today for a Confidential Assessment.
Call (877) 959-5909 Now to Speak with a Specialist

Substance Abuse and Suicide

According to statistics, over 90% of suicide victims suffer from substance abuse disorder, depression, or both conditions. People who are depressed often turn to drugs and alcohol to forget their problems and repeated use of these harmful substances could lead to addiction. At the same time, people who are suffering from substance abuse often experience depression and other mental health issues. Studies show that drug addiction can be a risk for suicide.

There is also evidence showing that drugs and alcohol could alter the body’s brain chemicals that could result in suicidal thoughts. Using opioids, for instance, is associated with a 75% increased likelihood of attempting suicide and a 40 to 60% increased likelihood of having suicidal thoughts. Addiction to other drugs like illicit drugs, antidepressants, and prescription medications have also been shown to increase suicidal thoughts and attempts.

People suffering from addiction often feel that there’s no future for them anymore, that's why they think about ending their life. This is especially common for people who have relapsed many times and failed to stay sober. While this can be a difficult and frustrating time, it does not mean that there’s no hope. There have been many inspiring success stories of people who have battled addiction and have turned around their lives for the better.

What to do to help save a life

Over a hundred people in America commit suicide every single day. This unfortunate reality can be prevented with proper awareness about suicide and knowing what to do to help prevent this from happening to your friends and loved ones.

Communicate

Suicide Prevention MontDo you know someone who suddenly started withdrawing from other people? Maybe it’s your sibling, a work colleague, a friend, or someone from your neighborhood. Suicidal thoughts often start when people feel that they’re alone and that they have no one to turn to. The first step in helping someone out is by offering a listening ear. You can start just by having friendly conversations and letting them know that they have you if they need someone to talk to. If you’re close to the person and you suspect that they might be thinking about suicide, you can ask outright “Are you thinking about suicide?” and ask them how you can help them solve their issues to prevent them from doing so. According to studies, acknowledging and talking about suicide in a non-judgmental way can reduce rather than increase suicidal thoughts.

Don’t Disregard Their Feelings

If people close to you tell you that they are feeling down and depressed, avoid saying “You’ll get over it” or “Toughen Up”. While saying these things may be your way of encouraging them to move on and stay positive, some people may mistake your intentions and think that you don’t care or that you do not recognize their struggles.

Instead of saying these things, ask, “How can I help?” or “What can I do to make you feel better?”. Acknowledging their feelings and offering your help can underline that you are there for them and that they are not alone.

Be Present

uicide Prevention MonthThere are times when people suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts do not really want to talk about anything or they don’t really need you to do anything for them but what they need is someone to be there for them. If you receive a call from someone who seems to be struggling with depression or other mental health issues, talk to them or if possible, be there for them physically by going to them. If they invite you to get drunk with them, try to divert their need for alcohol by introducing sober activities they can still enjoy such as watching movies, eating a fancy dinner, or going to a car show. Keep in mind that indulging in alcohol to forget issues can worsen the problem.

Seek Professional Help

What if your loved one is already suffering from serious mental health issues and substance addiction problems? The best thing to do is to seek professional help. There will be instances when communicating and being present are not enough to solve their problems and they need medical help in order to get better.

If you or a loved one is suffering from substance abuse and mental health issues, contact Anaheim Lighthouse today.

SUICIDE HELPLINE

If you or someone you know is in an emergency, contact The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or call 911 immediately.

Confidential Contact Form

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Privacy Policy

Learn About Lighthouse

  • Affordable Drug Rehab and Detox Center
  • CARF Certified
  • Homelike setting and world-class facilities
  • State licensed and certified
  • Most PPO insurance accepted
  • Specialized Alcohol and Drug Treatment Programs
  • Licensed and well-qualified professional staff
KNOW MORE

BLOG CATEGORIES

All Categories Alcoholism Drug Facts Health and Wellness Love and Relationships Opioid Addiction

Recent Posts

A man grabbing a case of White Claw brand hard seltzer

White Claw Alcohol Content: Original, Vodka, Vodka+Soda, Surf, Surge, Refrshr

December 2 2023
A can of Coors Light beer half-buried in white sand by the sea

Coors Light Alcohol Content

December 1 2023
A woman in a white shirt reading happy Thanksgiving messages on her phone, with lights in the background

Happy Thanksgiving Messages When In Addiction Recovery

November 22 2023
Addiction Recovery

Addiction Recovery Quotes: Finding Inspiration In Recovery

November 8 2023
Gabapentin With Alcohol

Gabapentin With Alcohol: What Happens If You Mix The Two?

October 30 2023

WHY CHOOSE LIGHTHOUSE

  • Affordable Drug Rehab and Detox Center
  • CARF Certified
  • Homelike setting and world-class facilities
  • State licensed and certified
  • Most PPO insurance accepted
  • Specialized Alcohol and Drug Treatment Programs
  • Licensed and well-qualified professional staff

Google Reviews

Christopher Tamburello

Christopher Tamburello

Absolutely loved this place. Great counselors- my counselor was Johnny. Great Alumni aftercare program that helps keep you connected. I highly recommend Lighthouse for anyone struggling with alcohol or drug addiction.
Josh Mugol

Josh Mugol

When I first stepped in to fill out the paper work to get admitted to housing, I immediately felt welcomed. If you treat the staff, therapists, and doctors with respect and use common courtesy, you will get more in return. The staff is run by former addicts/alcoholics so they...
Teresa Egan

Teresa Egan

The Lighthouse saved my life. I was willing to do whatever it takes to learn how to live a new way of life. Before I came into the program I was a hollow shell just wanting to die.. The staff loved me until I could love myself, and taught me how to deal with myself. I have a...

Related Posts

Aug 29 2022

Can Anxiety Kill You?

Anxiety is a powerful emotion but it can also be an illness. If you're like most people, your mind races when anxiety strikes. You worry about the things that could go wrong and the impact those problems could have on your life. It's hard to think straight when your mind is in chaos. Or it can ev...
Nov 25 2021

7 Songs To Help With Anxiety – Adele, Blackpink, Coldplay, Lana Del Rey

We all experience anxiety at some point in our lives. Anxiety can be caused by a variety of different things, from work to relationships and more. Unfortunately, many people deal with severe anxiety that interferes with their ability to live a normal life. While the best way to deal with chronic ...
Mar 30 2021

Britney Spears And Musicians Who Struggled With Substance Addiction And Mental Health Issues

We're all human and we all have our struggles. These struggles may lead some of us towards finding ourselves addicted to substances, struggling with mental health issues, or both. This is no different for musicians. Substance addiction and mental disorders affect all races, genders and socioecono...
Aug 26 2020

How To Get Rid of Social Anxiety? 5 Activities To Try Out In 2020

If you are struggling with social anxiety, you’ve probably read the common suggestions already on how to get rid of your disorder- traveling, attending public events, networking, joining a support group, or going to places with a lot of people. Doing these social activities could help you widen y...
Aug 07 2020

What I Learned From Kanye West’s Mental Health Struggles

Kanye West is running for president of the United States. This headline may seem like something out of a satirical news site but with the artist announcing it on his own Twitter account and even holding a political rally, many people are starting to believe that he’s actually serious in his bid. ...
Jun 11 2020

Am I Depressed or Lazy?

If you’re asking yourself this question, don’t worry, you’re not alone. There are so many people who are also confused whether their lack of motivation is caused by depression or just plain laziness. How can you differentiate between the two? Depression is defined as a mood disorder where you ...

We Accept Insurance

Don’t see your provider? Contact us to confirm coverage.

3 Easy Options to Get Started or Learn More

You Call Us

We are here to answer your questions. Learn about detox, treatment, costs, or anything else. Give us a call now.
(877) 959-5909

We Call You

Complete this secure form to receive a fast response from our support team
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Verify Your Insurance

Quickly confirm your coverage using our fast & easy verification system. We accept most insurances (and financing).
Verify My Insurance
  • About Us
  • What We Treat
  • Treatment Options
  • Our Facility
  • Admissions
  • Learn About
  • Contact Us

Connect With Us

(877) 959-5909
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3iC5RfaDKJtxZ2ElpR_z6g https://www.facebook.com/anaheimlighthouse https://www.instagram.com/anaheimlighthouse https://maps.google.com/maps?cid=10137502278264528885&hl=en&_ga=2.115856006.1810716125.1602095673-2075768318.1587360385

1320 West Pearl Street, Anaheim, CA 92801

Licensed and Certified by the State Department of Health Care Services 300188AP Exp. 5/31/2024
Licensed by the State Department of Health Care Services 300188CP Exp. 5/31/2024
Certified by the State Department of Health Care Services 300188FP Exp 5/31/2023

Copyright © 2023 Anaheim Lighthouse. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Web Accessibility