The month of September marks both National Recovery Month and World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10). There are links between suicide and substance use disorder– and suicide is preventable among people experiencing substance use disorder.

People who are experiencing a mental illness like depression or anxiety may use drugs or alcohol to cope with their symptoms. This is called “self-medicating” and it can cause a substance use disorder. Risk of suicide increases if an individual has both a substance use disorder and another mental illness. In this episode we will talk about recognizing symptoms of both and steps to take to prevent and assuage both.