Online Suicide and Addiction Prevention – There is Always Hope

“Jumping off the gw bridge sorry.” – Tyler Clementi

In September of 2010, Rutgers University Freshman Tyler Clementi jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge after his roommate allegedly used a webcam to spy on his intimate encounter with another man.

Tyler Clementi’s story is just one example in which the deceased posted their suicide note on the popular social networking site, Facebook.

Continuing their efforts to improve safety on their site, Facebook launched a new suicide prevention tool that will give its 800 million users a direct link to an online chat with counselors who can help. Meaning, if someone is posting unsettling photos or writing status updates about killing himself or herself, friends can click on a “report suicidal content” link.

This new measure is geared to help combat some of the troubling statistics regarding suicide, such as:

• Nearly 100 Americans die by suicide every day, and 36,035 a year
• In the past year, more than 8 million Americans 18 or older had thought seriously about suicide
• Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States

We are on board with Facebook and feel that it is extremely important to offer people alternative avenues to seek help for private and sensitive issues such as suicidal thoughts and struggles with alcohol and drug addiction. Addiction is an extremely complex and progressive disease that has the ability to consume an individual’s life-mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially. When it comes to addiction:

• Only 15% of the estimated 23 million Americans struggling with addiction actually seek drug rehab treatment for their addictions
• As many as 60% of adults in Federal prisons are there for drug-related crimes
• Approximately 50 to 80 percent of all child abuse and neglect cases substantiated by child protective services involve some degree of alcohol and drug abuse by the child’s parents

While seeking help for yourself or a loved one, not everyone may be comfortable talking to someone face to face. We understand that opening up about your struggle with alcohol and drug addiction is difficult so we want to provide different outlets to help you start the journey to recovery such as:

• Calling our addiction specialists toll-free at 855-678-8337
• Live chat with one of our trained addiction specialists. (100% secure and confidential)
• Have us contact you with an email consultation
• Following us on Facebook and Twitter
• Subscribe to our YouTube channel
• Visit our alumni website for support throughout recovery

If you or your loved one is suffering from alcohol and drug addiction we are here to help you find the information you need to get help. Addiction can be scary and overwhelming. Don’t take it on alone! Contact us today in the place you feel most comfortable and let us help guide you to a life of long lasting recovery.

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