Navigating the Shadows: Confronting Suicide, Addiction, and the Search for Resilience

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Have you ever stood at the edge of despair or watched a loved one wrestle with shadows that seem too dark to overcome? Our latest episode is a candid exploration of the delicate threads that connect suicide, the rippling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the entanglement of addiction. We confront the stark reality of the statistics: 800,000 suicides annually, as reported by the World Health Organization, and how the recent global crisis has intensified our collective mental health struggles. You'll hear raw insights inspired by the poignant reflections of Atticus, affirming that it's perfectly acceptable not to be okay, and that mental illness should never be viewed as a personal failure.

This episode is not just numbers and abstract concepts; it's an intimate journey through the human psyche, where we unveil the sixfold increase in suicide risk that addiction brings. We underscore the critical need for early intervention, comprehensive prevention strategies, and the unsung heroism of online support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous that have served as lifelines amidst the chaos. Guided by the wisdom of Trent Reznor and Christopher Reeve, we offer a message of hope and the power of human resiliency. And as we wrap up, take to heart the empowering words of Carl Jung and Carl Rogers, which remind us that we are not defined by our circumstances but by the choices we make. For anyone struggling, remember, help is a phone call away at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:35):
Welcome to another episode of War of the Mind,
where we tackle challengingmental health issues and
highlight the power ofresilience and redemption, a
deep dive into addiction,recovery, self-discovery and
overcoming adversity.
Today's topic, although heavy,is quite crucial understanding
suicide, its connection with theongoing pandemic and addiction.

(00:59):
First off, I'd like to share aquote by author Atticus, who
said it's okay to feel unstable,it's okay to disassociate, it's

(01:19):
okay to hide from the world,it's okay to need help, it's
okay not to be okay.
Your mental illness is not apersonal failure.
Let's set the stage with somestatistics.
The World Health Organizationreports approximately 800,000

(01:40):
suicides every year.
That's one person every 40seconds.
Disturbing, yes.
Hence why discussing suicideand suicide prevention is
important, more so during whathappened during COVID-19
pandemic.
So that brings us to our firstsegment Suicide and COVID-19.

(02:15):
The pandemic has amplifiedmental health conditions across
the globe.
There's fear of socialisolation, economic uncertainty.
People worry about the virusitself, losing loved ones to it,
but they're also concernedabout job security, although

(02:36):
life stresses brought into sharpfocus have potentially
escalated the risk of suicide.
To quote Elizabeth Kubler-Ross,the most beautiful people we
have known are those who haveknown defeat, known suffering,
known struggle, known loss andhave found their way out of the

(02:58):
depths.
Remember, we're all treadinguncharted waters, grappling with
heightened insecurities, soplease reach out to someone if
you find yourself struggling.
Self-validation in theseunwieldy times is key.

(03:26):
For our next segment, we'lldelve in deeper into the
intricate link between addictionand suicide.
Addiction can make anindividual six times more

(03:54):
susceptible to suicide.
Persistent substance abuse canexacerbate mental health
conditions or highlight hiddenissues like depression, anxiety,
influencing these unfavorableodds.
On top of that, characteristicsof addiction, such as

(04:15):
impulsivity, hopelessness orguilt could turn you towards
dire outcomes.
And another quote from TrentReznor I've struggled with
depression and addiction and ifyou're out there wrestling those
demons as well, know this itcan get better.
Now for our final segment.

(04:47):
When dealing with suicidaltendencies, early intervention
is paramount.
Prevention strategies must takea multi-pronged approach,
integrating individual care withcommunity-focused efforts, all
by digital platforms forwidespread accessibility.

(05:08):
Amid this panic pandemic,online addiction support groups

(05:28):
have been invaluable.
Platforms such as AlcoholicsAnonymous and Narcotics
Anonymous continue to operatevirtually, providing several
individuals with cruciallifeline.

(05:48):
One quote that comes to mindfrom Christopher Reeve once you
choose hope, anything's possible.
And I believe that, no matterhow much darkness we face,
there's always a light at theend of the tunnel.
To reduce feelings of isolationduring lockdowns, building
robust online communities canwork wonders.

(06:11):
Digital platforms could serveas an emotional tether, reducing
feelings of loneliness anddisconnectedness during social
distancing and quarantinemeasures.

(06:42):
Let's not forget amidst allthese challenges, circumstances
lies an opportunity for us allto grow with crisis.
With crisis comes adapt,adaption, adaptation and
resilience.
It might seem insurmountablenow, but remember Carl Rogers'
words the good life is a process, not a state of being.
It is a direction, not adestination.
Now, wrapping up our show today, I'd like to emphasize that

(07:21):
mental health matters now morethan ever.
Crisis has shown us in nouncertain time, in no certain
time terms, that even amidst it,amidst all of the scientific
advancements, there's urgentneed for mental health care to

(07:44):
move front and center in ourhealth care responses.
So, as we, I leave you withanother quote from Carl Jung I

(08:08):
am not what happened to you, tome, I am what I choose to become
.
Remember suicide is aware.
Suicide awareness is not justabout understanding its cause or
just statistics.
It's about real people,countless lives impacting
families and communities.
Let's ensure they get help andthe support they deserve.

(08:29):
Remember, it's okay not to beokay.
Seek help if you need it andlet's help each other find the
strength.
Even in times of crisis, youare not alone.

(08:50):
Remember, if you or anyone elsemay be at risk, seek immediate
professional help.
In the US, contact NationalSuicide Prevention Lifeline at
1-800-273-TALK.
That's 1-800-273-TALK, that's1-800-273-8255.

(09:13):
Or use the Crisis Text Line bytexting HOME to 741741.
Final thought In the middle ofall of a difficulty lies

(09:35):
opportunity.
That's a quote from AlbertEinstein.
Again, it's in the middle of adifficulty lies opportunity.
And yes, we are in the throesof global pandemic, but it also
is an opportunity, a chance tohighlight mental health, the
silent crisis we often pushaside.

(09:58):
In our next episode, we willdive deeper into strategies and
tools that help us buildresilience during challenging

(10:21):
times.
We'll talk more about theimportance of self-care, strong
support systems and how takingone day at a time can make a
massive difference.
But until then, stay kind ofyour own words to your own words
, look out for each other andremember every storm eventually

(10:41):
runs out of rain.
This is war of the mind, wherethe fate we face mental health
challenges head on and addiction, self-discovery, powers of
aliens and adversity.

Speaker 2 (10:58):
Don't forget to subscribe wherever you get your
podcasts, so you never miss anepisode and before we go, I'll
repeat once again if you are inthe house, maybe at rest.
Seek immediate professionalhelp In the US.
Contact National SuicidePrevention Hotline

(11:19):
1-800-273-TALK.
That's 1-800-273-8255.
That's 1-800-273-8255.
Or use the Crisis Text Line bytexting CALL to 741741.
Mental health is not a personalfailure.

(11:40):
This episode was produced byLauren Johnson and edited by
Lauren Johnson.
If you love this episode, leaveus a review on the podcast
platform and join theconversation with Montel Health
awareness on our social mediapages and the suicide prevention
on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.
Thanks again for joining ustoday.

(12:03):
See you again in the nextepisode.