Top Mental Health Researcher Suggests Link Between Opioid Overdoses and Suicides

Joshua Gordon, director of the National Institute of Mental Health, believes more work must be done on connections between suicidal thoughts and overdoses.
As fatal opioid overdoses continue to rise, the causes of each death have become all too familiar: They usually involve a lethal cocktail of heroin, painkillers, and increasingly, the powerful synthetic opioid Fentanyl. But often left out of these tragic stories is the inner turmoil going on inside each victim, and researchers have started examining trauma and depression as well as social connectedness as possible factors in the rise of overdoses.

In addition to the spread of painkillers and cheap heroin, some fatal overdoses may in fact be suicides. Dr. Joshua Gordon, the director of the National Institute of Mental Health, believes that there may be a stronger link between the opioid epidemic and suicide than previously realized.

“There are, of course, links between addictions in general and opioid addictions in particular and suicide,” Gordon told HuffPost. “There is a lot of concern that many of the overdose deaths could be suicides. We need to learn more about the prevalence of suicidality amongst opioid addicted individuals.”

Many of the same drivers behind suicidal thinking can be found in those addicted to opioids, from feelings of isolation and despair to economic anxieties and histories of trauma.
For complete article: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/opioids-suicide-depression-public-health_us_59d55486e4b0380b6c9a14e1

North Country Out of the Darkness Walk Scheduled for October 1

Contact

Shelby Davis
(518) 932-1241
shelby@mhainessex.org

 

North Country Out of the Darkness Walk Scheduled for October 1

Community Walk to Fight Suicide in its 9th Year

Lake Placid, NY – August 10, 2017 – People from throughout the North Country are expected to participate in the 9th Annual North Country Out of the Darkness Community Walk to Fight Suicide at 1:00 pm, Sunday, October 1, 2017 at the Olympic Speed Skating Oval in Lake Placid.  This fundraising walk supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s local and national programs and its bold goal to reduce the annual rate of suicide 20 percent by 2025.

“Suicide affects one in five American families. I am walking to bring awareness to this leading cause of death and let people in the community know that they are not alone. There is help out there for those who live with a mental health condition and support for those who have lost a loved one to suicide,” said Shelby Davis, 2017 North Country Walk Chairperson and member of the Essex County Suicide Prevention Coalition.

The North Country Walk is part of a national Out of the Darkness walk movement, consisting of Community Walks, Campus Walks and two Overnight walks each year. In 2016, AFSP hosted more than 500 Out of the Darkness Walks spanning all 50 states, uniting more than 240,000 walkers and raising millions for suicide prevention research, education and advocacy.

Proceeds from the walks support programs such as Talk Saves Lives™; an educational presentation on how to recognize the risk factors and warning signs of suicide, and a new film entitled It’s Real: College Students and Mental Health that launched this spring. Through fundraising at the walks and other community and national events, AFSP has been able to fund 552 research grants totaling over $34 million dollars since 1987.

In the past year, the Capital Region Chapter:

  • Presented More Than Sad, a teen depression awareness program for middle and high schoolers to over 1,000 students, school personnel and parents;
  • Provided support to 199 survivors of suicide loss;
  • Provided safeTALK and Mental Health First Aid trainings to 364 people;
  • Hosted Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, a one-day healing conference for those who have lost someone to suicide at 6 different conference sites;
  • Participated in 18 community health fairs providing information and resources to over 700 attendees;
  • Presented Talk Saves Lives, an introduction to suicide prevention to educate everyone in the community on risk factors, warning signs and how to help to 720 people; and, so much more.

“Fifty percent of the funds we raise stay here in the North Country to support programs like these, and the rest goes to research and special projects, like Project 2025.  As a survivor of suicide loss, it’s important to me our fundraising dollars stay local; our communities need this support.  If you know of any suicide prevention needs in your community, please know the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Essex County Suicide Prevention Coalition is ready and willing to bring programs and services to you at no cost,” said Shelby Davis.

“These walks are about turning hope into action,” said AFSP CEO Robert Gebbia. “Suicide is a serious problem, but it’s a problem we can solve. The research has shown us how to fight suicide, and if we keep up the fight the science is only going to get better, our culture will get smarter about mental health, and we’ll be able to save more people from dying from depression and other mental health conditions.”

Walkers can register at www.afsp.org/northcountry until 12:00 noon on Friday, September 29, 2017, however anyone who would like to participate can register in person at the walk from the time check-in begins until the walk starts. Registration begins at 11:30 am on October 1, Opening Ceremony is at 1:00 pm, and the Walk begins at 1:30 pm and includes a walk around the Oval and Mirror Lake, with the Closing Ceremony at approximately 3:00 pm.

The Walk also includes family friendly activities like face painting, a clown, music, Adirondack Bagpipers, basket raffles, silent auction, light refreshments, dove balloon release, team photos, memory board, Lifekeeper Memory Quilts, community resource tables and more.

The Walk is seeking sponsors, donations for basket raffles and silent auctions, and volunteers to assist the day of the event.  For information about corporate sponsorships or volunteering, call Shelby at 962-2077 ext. 229 or email Shelby@mhainessex.org.

Local AFSP sponsors for the North Country Out of the Darkness Community Walk include the Essex County Suicide Prevention Coalition, Citizen Advocates, Adirondack Health, Northern Insuring Agency, Inc., The Wild Center, Whiteface Club & Resort, Mirror Lake Inn, and Ticonderoga Federal Credit Union.

 

 

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP creates a culture that’s smart about mental health through education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, and with a public policy office in Washington, D.C., AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states with programs and events nationwide. AFSP celebrates 30 years of service to the suicide prevention movement. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report, and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

 

It is the mission of the Essex County Suicide Prevention Coalition to work together as a community to increase suicide awareness and prevention.  The Coalition envisions Essex County having the necessary information and tools to raise awareness, promote education, and increase action to reduce suicides.  Learn more about the Coalition on our website, Facebook and Twitter

Responding to 13 Reasons Why: Having an Interactive Discussion

The Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, based on the popular 2007 book, has surfaced the topic of suicide prevention across the country. But it has also raised concerns for how young people will react. If you’re thinking about the safest and best way to lead a discussion with teens about 13 Reasons Why and suicide, please read the tip sheet co-authored by SAVE.org and the JED Foundation.

Click here to download a PDF file of the 13 Reasons Why Talking Points.  

News from NYAPRS regarding the NYS Budget Deal: Housing, Workforce & Criminal Justice Wins!

NYAPRS Analysis of 2017-18 State Budget Agreement

Despite a turbulent process characterized by frequent fits and stops, a 3-way state budget agreement that was announced by Governor Cuomo last night and that is expected to be approved by both houses of the legislature over the coming days has turned out to be one of the best we’ve seen in a very long time.

NYAPRS members have a lot to be proud of! On February 28th, upwards of 700 spirited self and system advocates came to Albany to push for several historic housing and criminal justice initiatives, for long overdue increases to our long underpaid yet dedicated and skilled community workforce, for more community reinvestment dollars from state hospital downsizing and for an innovative pilot featuring a voluntary yet persistent approach to serving people and families in crisis.

Read more from the NYAPRS website

North Country Out of the Darkness Walk to Fight Suicide October 1, 2017

Join us for the North Country Out of the Darkness Community Walk on October 1, 2017 at the Olympic Speed Skating Oval in Lake Placid.  Registration/Check in begins at 11:30 am, the Walk begins at 1:00 pm.  Proceeds benefit local and national suicide prevention and awareness programs of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, including advocacy for public policy, suicide prevention education, and support programs for survivors of suicide loss.  Register to walk, be a virtual walker, make a donation, volunteer or become a sponsor at www.afsp.org/northcountry.  Contact Shelby at 518-962-2077 or Shelby@mhainessex.org for more information.