Suicide and drinking are linked, and it is important to be able to tell when someone who drinks may be at risk of killing themselves.
If you or someone you knowstruggles with alcohol useand is depressed, you may be concerned about suicide. If so, you are right to worry; a strong link exists between alcohol and suicide. Drunk people are more likely to commit suicide. In addition, people who struggle with alcohol use have a high suicide risk. Suicide and drinking are linked, and it is important to be able to tell when someone who drinks may be at risk of killing themselves.
Article at a Glance:
- Being drunk makes you more likely to attempt suicide because you have less self-control and often have a lower mood than when you are sober
- People who struggle with alcohol use have a very high rate of suicide attempts
- Many people who struggle with alcohol have depression
- You can help someone with suicidal thoughts by listening without judgment, keeping them safe and supporting them
- The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is available at 1-800-273-8255
Drunk With Suicidal Thoughts
Doctors know that suicide and alcohol use go hand-in-hand. Being drunk plays a role in many suicide attempts. Many people are more suicidal when drunk than when they are sober. Doctors think this happens because being drunkloosens the self-restraintyou feel. Drunk peopleare known tohave a hard time weighing the pros and cons of decisions, and finding solutions to problems. Therefore, you may have suicidal thoughts after drinking. When you are sober, even though you may think about suicide, you have the self-control to not do it because you can think through your actions. This control goes away when you are drunk,possibly leadingto a higher risk of suicide. Doctors believe that drunk people tend to be more depressed than when they are sober. The combination of these two factors leads to a higher risk of suicide when you are drunk.
Alcoholic With Suicidal Thoughts
People who struggle with alcohol use are at a much higher risk of suicide than other people. Studies have shown that people who have problems with alcohol have a suicide rateup to 10 times higherthan others.Forty percent of people who receivedtreatmentfor a drinking problem report having tried suicide at least once. Men are at ahigher riskthan women. Doctors think that people struggling with alcohol and thinking about suicide may have alower risk of suicide if they quit drinking.
There is an even higher risk of suicide in people who struggle with alcohol use if they also have depression. Suicidal alcoholic depression can be deadly. A few different studies found thatmore than 80%of people who committed suicide have a history of not only alcohol misuse, but also depression.Doctors thinkit is possible that excessive alcohol use in some people is their way of trying to treat their depression.
Ready to Break Free From Addiction?
If you’re seeking help for yourself or a loved one, our expert team is here to guide you every step of the way. Don’t wait—start your journey to recovery today.
How To Help An Alcoholic With Suicidal Thoughts
It can sometimes be hard to know if someone is thinking of suicide. Some of thewarning signsthat someone is thinking of suicide include if the person:
- Talks about wanting to die, or talks about suicide
- Looks into ways to kill themselves, such as buying a gun or looking up websites on how to commit suicide
- Speaks about feeling like there is no hope in life or no reason to live
- Talks about living in pain they cannot deal with
- Says they are a burden to those around them
- Drinks more alcohol or uses more drugs than normal
- Acts reckless, anxious, or agitated
- Has sleep problems
- Withdraws from those around them
- Acts angry or talks about wanting revenge
- Has mood swings
If you believe a loved one is thinking of suicide, it is crucial to seek emergency help as soon as you can. The United States federal government runs the National Suicide Prevention Hotline to help stop suicide. The hotline is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-273-8255.
The way you talk to someone thinking about suicide can also be very important. If you are wondering how to help a suicidal alcoholic,some tipsinclude:
- Be open and direct: ask if they are thinking about suicide
- Listen without judging, arguing, or acting shocked
- Show support for the person and show that you are around to help them
- Don’t promise to keep your conversation secret
- Remove the means of suicide from the person, such as guns, rope and car keys
Alcohol Suicide Statistics
Alcohol is involved in many suicide attempts.Studies showthat about 39% of emergency room visits for suicide attempts involve alcohol mixed with other drugs. Many other attempts end up being successful cases of suicide by alcohol:22% of deathsby suicide occur in drunk people.
If you or a loved one are struggling to stop drinking, help is available.Contactthe professionals at The Recovery Village to learn more about how individualized treatment programs can help you address your addiction and any co-occurring mental health disorders.
