September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month —a time to raise awareness of this stigmatized, and often taboo, topic. We use this month to shift public perception, spread hope and share vital information to people affected by suicide. Our goal is ensuring that individuals, friends and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention and to seek help.
That excerpt comes from the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) website.
Mental health matters
Mental health is such an important topic in today's world. Finding healthy ways of coping with the stress of life can be challenging.
When you're stressed or upset, you may find comfort in a margarita or glass of wine. If you're just drinking alcohol occasionally and not using it as a primary method of drowning out your worries, there's probably no harm in having a drink. But why does alcohol cause major issues for so many people who drink it?
Alcohol is a tricky thing
Many people drink alcohol because it makes them feel relaxed or happy. It may make you feel more comfortable in a group setting, and it may even make you forget about your problems temporarily. But alcohol is actually classified as a depressant.
A link between depression and drinking (and possibly even suicide and drinking)
According to American Addiction Centers, "alcohol can exacerbate the effects of certain conditions – including anxiety and depression. In some cases, excessive alcohol consumption can even lead to suicidal thoughts or tendencies."
According to NAMI, alcohol is included in both a warning sign of suicide (specifically "increased alcohol and drug use") and a risk factor of suicide (specifically "Intoxication. Analysis from the CDC indicates around 1 in 5 people who die by suicide had alcohol in their system at the time of death.").
So no margaritas?
Are you drinking because you're depressed or are you depressed because you're drinking? According to many sources, it may be both. A big portion of people with severe depression also have a drinking problem. Apparently the depression often comes first, but the two conditions can impact each other.
If you're drinking small amounts in social settings and you're not getting behind the wheel after you drink, there is probably no harm in having that cocktail. But if you find yourself drinking to drown your worries and alcohol is affecting your mental health, you may need to reach out for help.
Alcoholism and mental health concerns: How we can help
Some people convince themselves that drinking is always fine as long as they don't get behind the wheel after. But you have a lot to gain from dealing with alcoholism and mental health concerns. If you or a loved one are feeling depressed or are turning to alcohol in an unhealthy way, you should definitely seek medical attention from someone trained to deal with these tough issues. If you need help monitoring alcohol use, call us about voluntary use of our automobile breathalyzer or portable alcohol device.
Do you think our interlock services might be able to help?
We can set you up for interlock device installation at any of these locations:
Interlock in Andalusia | Interlock in Birmingham | Interlock in Boaz | Interlock in Decatur | Interlock in Foley | Interlock in Mobile | Interlock in Montgomery | Interlock in Opelika | Interlock in Sheffield | Interlock in Tuscaloosa
Contact us to book your installation appointment to take a step in the right direction.
