September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and National Recovery Month

This September, we celebrate both National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and National Recovery Month, recognizing that mental health disorders and substance use can often go hand in hand. The Institute for Family Health joins millions of families around the globe in recognizing the impact of suicide and addiction, and we commit to redoubling our efforts to connect our patients and community members to the care they need.

Our providers, nurses, mental health clinicians, care navigators, case managers and patient service representatives all play important parts in tuning in to our patients’ verbal and nonverbal signals for help. Our providers are trained to screen, assess and treat suicide risk, and our medical and behavioral health clinicians  offer integrated substance use treatment services. We encourage all members of our community to seek care, or connect loved ones to care if they are in need.  If you are struggling with your mental health or have difficulty around substance use, let your provider know. We can help.

If you are feeling overwhelmed or in crisis, call or text 988, or chat 988lifeline.org/chat. Services are available in English and Spanish, and there is a dedicated line for LGBTQIA+ youth.