September is National Recovery Month. The purpose of this month is to "promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the nation's strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and communities who make recovery in all its forms possible."

Having a mental health or substance use disorder can be incredibly isolating despite how common these concerns are. Support for recovery is crucial, and you can find that support at UMBC. So often, we consume the harrowing tales of addiction, but rarely do we hear the stories of recovery. A study published in 2020 by the CDC and the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that "3 out of 4 people who experience addiction are in recovery." Mental health and substance use disorders are treatable. Having worked in the recovery field, I have witnessed the positive reality of recovery. I have also witnessed that seeking and accepting help can be hard. UMBC students are incredibly intelligent and tough and typically try to solve their own problems independently. A person in recovery needs community support, and there are many ways to access this. By embracing recovery, one can improve mental and physical health and form stronger relationships with friends, family, and classmates. Recovery is possible. Help is available. RIH celebrates that hope and honors Recovery Month. We urge all community members to join this celebration by reducing the stigma of mental health or substance use disorders and approaching someone considering or active in recovery with acceptance, support, and inclusion. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health or substance use disorder, know that free and confidential help is available 24 hours a day through SAMHSA's National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357). RIH providers are also happy to support you with this concern. You can make an appointment by calling 410-455-2542 during business hours.

September is Suicide Prevention Month and at Retriever Integrated Health, we are observing this month of awareness by sharing resources UMBC community members can utilize for themselves or others if suicide is a concern.

Did you know that:

• In 2021, suicide was responsible for 48,183 deaths.  That's about one death by suicide every 11 minutes, or approximately 132 every day.
• Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for teens and young adults aged 10-34.
• 94% of adults in the United States think suicide can be prevented.

Sometimes the challenge lies in knowing how to prevent suicide, and in the inherent discomfort and fear in the word suicide.  Many people believe that directly talking about suicide increases the likelihood of a person attempting suicide, but the opposite is actually true.  Talking about suicide with a trusted person greatly decreases a person's likelihood of attempting suicide.  For UMBC community members who need support in increasing their comfort and confidence in talking about suicide, RIH offers Question, Persuade, Refer, a one-hour-long skills-based workshop that provides practical tools for use with folx in suicidal crisis.  Visit the RIH myUMBC page to learn more and to sign up for a session of QPR being offered this fall.  

Having thoughts of suicide is more common than you may think.  In 2021, 12.3 million people seriously thought about suicide and 3.5 million made a plan for suicide.  If you are having thoughts of suicide, you are not alone and you do not have to figure out how to manage your feelings alone.  At UMBC, there are many options for support: 

• 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, is available by call or text 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and will connect you with a trained local mental health professional.  
• Togetherall, an online peer support community, connects you with other college students who may be going through the same things as you.
• Urgent Mental Health Care visits at Retriever Integrated Health, allow you to see a counselor when you are in distress, Monday-Friday 8:30am-5pm at the Center for Well-Being.
• ISP is a self-screening tool that connects you anonymously with an RIH counselor for consultation.  You can access this and other online tools on our website.

By seeking help when you are struggling and knowing how to support peers when they are struggling, you can be a part of suicide prevention at UMBC.