How We Can Save Lives Together: Talk with a Loved One About Suicide

Content Warning: This article contains information regarding suicide, mental health crises, and substance use disorders. If you or someone you know is in crisis, help is available immediately. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (available 24/7, free, and confidential).

Today, September 10, 2026, marks World Suicide Prevention Day, organized by the International Association for Suicide Prevention, with the World Health Organization as a co-sponsor. Cenikor is proud to help share this crucial message and offer hope to the individuals and families facing these challenges each day. To learn more about global prevention initiatives, visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention World Suicide Prevention Day resource page.

Do you know someone who is struggling with their mental health, substance use, or both?

Mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and thoughts of suicide affect millions of individuals and families every year. Yet many people suffer in silence because they fear judgment, misunderstanding, or not knowing where to turn for help.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide remains one of the leading causes of death in the United States, claiming more than 48,000 lives in 2024. In the United States, approximately one person dies by suicide every 11 minutes. With effective prevention and timely compassionate support, we want to help reduce that number.

On World Suicide Prevention Day and throughout Suicide Prevention Month, we pause to honor those we have lost, including beloved family members, friends, coworkers, and members of our communities whose absence leaves a profound hole in our hearts and neighborhoods. We also stand alongside those who may be suffering in silence.

While this conversation is difficult, it is vital. Talking about suicide and substance use can feel intimidating, painful, or frightening for parents, loved ones, and caregivers. By breaking the silence surrounding mental health and substance use, communities can reduce stigma, connect more people with appropriate care, and help save lives.

Understanding Substance Use and Suicide Risk

To understand suicide prevention, we must look closely at the role of drug and alcohol abuse. Clinical research shows that substance use disorders significantly increase the risk of suicidal thoughts, attempts, and deaths. With this insight, it is crucial to continue having proactive conversations with loved ones who have struggled with substance use or are currently struggling.

Data from the CDC reveals that nearly 1 in 5 individuals who die by suicide have a substance-related factor involved at the time of their death. Furthermore, individuals dealing with severe alcohol use disorder are 10 to 14 times more likely to be at risk for suicidal behavior compared to the general population.

Why are substance abuse and suicide so closely tied together? SAMHSA explains that substance use disorders are associated with an increased likelihood and severity of suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, and death by suicide. This connection is often intensified when substance use occurs alongside depression, anxiety, trauma, or other co-occurring mental health conditions. For many people, alcohol or drug use may begin as a way to cope with emotional pain, but over time it can deepen distress, lower inhibitions, impair judgment, and make crisis moments more dangerous.

Substance use can also make it harder for someone to recognize hope, ask for help, or think clearly about the consequences of a brief but overwhelming moment. That is why suicide prevention and substance abuse treatment must work together. Screening for suicide risk, treating co-occurring mental health conditions, building safety plans, and connecting people to compassionate care can help reduce risk and support long-term recovery.

Recognizing the Warning Signs

Are you concerned about a friend, family member, or coworker? Do you wonder if someone you care about is silently considering ending their life? Learning to recognize the warning signs of suicide and substance abuse allows you to step in with support before a crisis escalates.

Possible warning signs for these behavior changes:

• Unexplained increases in alcohol or drug consumption.
• Talking about feeling hopeless, trapped, or having no reason to live.
• Expressing thoughts of being a burden to friends, family, or society.
• Withdrawing from loved ones, social circles, and regular activities.
• Displaying extreme mood swings, ranging from intense anger to sudden, unexpected calm.
• Engaging in dangerous, risky choices without concern for personal safety.
• Giving away prized personal possessions or saying goodbye to people as if they won’t see them again.
• Neglecting personal hygiene, sleep, or daily responsibilities.

How Local Texas Communities Are Making a Difference

Hope is not just an abstract idea—it is actively taking root in communities across Texas. Local leaders and behavioral health organizations are joining forces to ensure no one has to face mental health challenges alone.

For instance, the Hays County Commissioners Court officially proclaimed September as National Suicide Prevention and Action Month. This proclamation highlights the essential work happening on the front lines every day to support residents, reduce stigma, and provide life-saving resources.

Numerous organizations across Central Texas and throughout the state work tirelessly to address these crises:

• Cenikor Foundation
• Greater San Marcos Youth Council
• Hays Caldwell Women’s Center
• NAMI Central Texas
• Communities in Schools of Central Texas
• Hill Country MHDD Centers
• Local healthcare providers and first responders

Community leaders encourage all residents to expand their understanding of mental health by participating in local education programs. Courses such as Mental Health First Aid Training, ASIST Suicide Prevention Training, and Youth Awareness of Mental Health Training equip everyday citizens with the tools to identify crises and offer immediate support.

Actionable Steps: How to Support Someone in Crisis

If you suspect that someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts or an addiction, taking action can feel daunting. However, continuous social support is often the key to getting someone into care.

Here are ways you can support someone in distress:

• Ask Directly: Do not be afraid to ask, “Are you thinking about suicide?” Asking directly does not put the idea in their head; instead, it shows that you care and provides a safe space for them to open up.
• Listen Without Judgment: Listen calmly to what they are going through. Avoid lecturing, arguing, or minimizing their pain. Simply validating their feelings can relieve immense emotional pressure.
• Remove Lethal Means: If someone is in immediate crisis, ensure that firearms, prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and alcohol are safely secured or removed from their environment.
• Connect Them to Professional Care: Offer to sit with them while they call a hotline, or assist them in finding an accredited behavioral health and addiction treatment center.

Honoring Memory and Embracing Recovery

On World Suicide Prevention Day, we honor the memory of every life lost to suicide. Their stories matter, and their legacy inspires our commitment to expanding mental health awareness and care.

Despite the gravity of these issues, recovery is a real and achievable path. Research from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that nearly 75% of adults who have struggled with a substance use problem consider themselves to be in recovery. Healing is possible, and treatment works.

Is It Time to Address Substance Use and Mental Health in Your Life?

Dealing with substance use, severe depression, or suicidal ideation is challenging for everyone involved. But you do not have to carry this weight by yourself. Please reach out for help immediately.

Immediate Emergency Resources:

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (Available 24/7, free, and confidential)
• The Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1, or text 838255
• The Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
• The Trevor Project: Call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678

At Cenikor, we are dedicated to providing a safe, compassionate environment to help individuals and families work toward health, recovery, and long-term wellness. We are committed to helping people overcome drug and alcohol use while addressing underlying behavioral health conditions through a full continuum of care. As a nonprofit organization serving more than 16,000 clients in fiscal year 2026 across Texas and New Mexico, we are here to walk with you every step of the way.

Contact Cenikor today to learn more about our treatment programs and start a hopeful new chapter in your life.