Is Mental Illness Always a Factor in Suicide?

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• Is Mental Illness Always a Factor in Suicide?
• From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs
• Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans
• Mental Health Quote

Is Mental Illness Always a Factor in Suicide?

Something important to understand is the role that mental illness plays in suicide.

Certain mental illnesses are associated with a higher suicide rate. Mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, borderline personality disorder, and psychotic disorders like schizophrenia are associated with an increased suicide risk.

However, mental illness isn’t the only suicide risk factor. The American Psychiatric Association informs us that over half of people who die by suicide don’t have a known mental health condition. Tough life situations increase someone’s risk, too:

• Relationship problems
• Current or past abuse
• Facing a loss (death, friendship, employment, etc.)
• School failure
• Legal trouble
• Chronic illness and/or chronic pain

With human connection and support, everyone can beat the risk factors for suicide; whether it’s mental illness or life circumstances. Between 80 and 90 percent of people seeking help for major depression are treated successfully with therapy, medication, or both (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE)). Mental health care can prevent suicide. Building strong, supportive, positive connections to help each other through hardship can prevent suicide as well.

Says SAVE, “An estimated quarter million people each year become suicide survivors.” Together, we can prevent suicide attempts and provide support, so a survivor remains a survivor.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. The more everyone knows about suicide and preventing it, the more we can band together to save lives.

Related Articles Dealing with Suicide

• Suicide Information, Resources, & Support
• Teen Suicide Prevention
• Teen Suicide: Feel Suicidal? What Now?
• Depression: Understanding Thoughts of Suicide
• Reasons for Living Can Prevent Suicide During Depression
• Considering Suicide? STOP!
• How To Talk to a Suicidal Person
• How To Help Suicidal Older Men and Women

Your Thoughts

Today's Question: In your opinion, what is the best way to prevent suicide? We invite you to participate by sharing your thoughts, experiences, or knowledge on the HealthyPlace Facebook page.

From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs

On all our blogs, your comments and observations are welcomed.

• Does Suicide Stigma Look Different for Men and Women?
• The Depressed Thoughts Behind Suicidal Ideation
• Mindfulness Meditation for Anxiety
• Indicators that an Eating Disorder Has Led to Suicidal Ideation
• How to Avoid Blaming Yourself After a Loved One's Suicide
• Acknowledge the Trauma of a Suicide Attempt to Move Forward
• Suicidal Ideation in Addiction Recovery: Devastating Effects
• Suicidal Ideation During Mania from Schizoaffective Disorder
• 6 Reasons to Join an Anxiety Support Group
• Relationship Between Bulimia and Suicide, Suicidal Thoughts
• Anxiety Is Temporary -- Suicide is Forever
• How First Responders Treat Mental Health Concerns in Toledo
• Using Suicidal Ideation as a Depression Coping Mechanism
• Sleep in Recovery from Mental Illness: When Is It Healthy?
• Use the DBT FAST Skill to Keep Self-Respect During Conflict

Feel free to share your thoughts and comments at the bottom of any blog post. And visit the mental health blogs homepage for the latest posts.

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Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans

Here are the top 3 mental health articles HealthyPlace Facebook fans are recommending you read:

1. 3 Myths About Parenting a Child With Mental Illness
2. Smartphones and Mental Health: Less Screen Time, More Bliss
3. Emotional Flashbacks in Complex PTSD

If you're not already, I hope you'll join us/like us on Facebook too. There are a lot of wonderful, supportive people there.

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Mental Health Quote

"You’re going to be okay. Breathe and remember that you’ve been in this place before."

Read more anxiety quotes.

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That's it for now. If you know of anyone who can benefit from this newsletter or the HealthyPlace.com site, I hope you'll pass this onto them. You can also share the newsletter on any social network (like facebook or stumbleupon) you belong to by clicking the links below. For updates throughout the week, follow HealthyPlace on Twitter or become a fan of HealthyPlace on Facebook. Also, check out HealthyPlace on Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest, where you can share your mental health pins on our Share Your Mental Health Experiences board.

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