A Handbook for Recovery After a Suicide Attempt

It is often said that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Nevertheless, every day people attempt and succeed in taking their own lives. More times than not, the underlying causes for a person attempting suicide stem from a psychiatric problem, such as depression and addiction. In fact, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that 90% of people who die by suicide have a treatable psychiatric disorder.

Around one million people take their own lives every year, according to the World Health Organization. On average, nearly 3000 people commit suicide every day; for every person who commits suicide, 20 or more make an attempt at taking their own lives.

Drug and alcohol abuse, in conjunction with co-occurring disorders such as bipolar disorder and depression, is often too much to bear. Without help in the form of treatment and intensive counseling, it becomes easier for individuals to make decisions that cannot be reversed. What’s more, people who have made a suicide attempt are far more likely to try again.

In an effort to help those who have made a suicide attempt, SAMHSA and the American Foundation For Suicide Prevention are offering a free PDF entitled: A Journey Toward Health and Hope: Your Handbook for Recovery After a Suicide Attempt.

The handbook’s goal is to:

• Raise awareness that suicide is preventable.
• Improve education about suicide.
• Spread information about suicide awareness.
• Decrease stigmatization regarding suicide.

If you know someone who is suffering from substance abuse and/or a co-occurring disorder, share this post with them or their family.