Despite the rise in depression and anxiety symptoms, firearm sales, and drug and alcohol use, US suicide rates during COVID actually fell 6% last year, the largest annual decline in four decades. While we’ve all watched our fair share of disaster movies — Titanic, The Day After Tomorrow, The Perfect Storm, and probably the most […]
Drug overdose deaths have reached an unprecedented high in the US, with an estimated 107,622 drug overdose deaths occurring between April 2020 and April 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is a 30% increase from the previous year, an alarming fact that has many contributing causes. Recognized on August 31 every year, Overdose Awareness Day is designed to draw attention to this ongoing tragedy and inspire action to prevent more deaths.
On July 16, 2022, the new 988 suicide hotline marked its debut. Instead of having to call the former 10-digit number, those struggling with thoughts of suicide, or calling on behalf of a suicidal person, can simply call 988 to be connected to a counselor. (The 10-digit line still works, too.)
As reported by The New York Times, counselors are trained to provide guidance to those having trouble with substance abuse, mental health conditions, and suicidal ideation. Anyone who calls will benefit from the same kind of confidentiality they would receive at a doctor’s office.