Social media is, in theory, a fantastic way to stay up to date with long distance family and friends, discover new places to explore, or learn tips that make daily tasks easier. With increasingly more presence, accessibility, and utilization, it’s nearly necessary if we wish to remain connected to the world around us. What happens though, when this overwhelmingly powerful  platform lands in the wrong hands, those that are young, impressionable, and susceptible to the dangers held beneath the surface?

In the culture of today, you’d be hard-pressed to find a significant amount of people, especially young people, “unplugged.” With a swipe of a screen or a press of a button, the worldwide web lights up our devices, providing access to all we could possibly hope to learn—and even more we wouldn’t.

The Monolith Menace

In August of 2020 14-year-old Englyn Roberts died by suicide. Her parents, Toney and Brandy, told Sharyn Alfonsi, host of CBS News’ 60 Minutes, they had no idea that the bright and sunny baby of the family, was struggling with depression and thoughts of suicide. It was only after they searched through her phone that they found a simulation video of a woman demonstrating how to hang oneself. A video that according to Brandy, was still circulating online roughly a year and a half after her daughter’s death and was only taken down in December of 2021.

Alexis Spence, now 20, developed depression and an eating disorder at age 12 after Instagram algorithms led her to pro-anorexia accounts from an innocent search for exercise tips. Her parents had given her the phone to communicate with them after school and middle school teachers themselves, had taken precautions by setting up age restrictions and a schedule in which young Alexis was allowed to use her smart phone. In the same 60 Minutes segment, aired earlier this week, Alexis told Alfonsi that she learned “pretty quickly” how to sneak phone use and override the parental controls which ultimately contributed to a downward spiral into dangerous waters.

These stories are just two of the more than 1,200 families pressing charges against big social media companies such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Roblox, and Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. According to 60 Minutes, over 150 cases will be moving forward after the start of the new year. All of the companies contacted for the story declined comment.

Evidence That Companies Know Their Influence And Impact On Youth

Last fall, previous Facebook data scientist, Frances Haugen testified in front of a Senate subcommittee that the major social media company actively “…harms children, sows division and undermines democracy in pursuit of breakneck growth and ‘astronomical profits.” A Facebook employee for nearly two years, Haugen’s job was to research how foreign adversaries utilized misinformation that was promoted through the company’s algorithms. Hardly the first ex-employee to blow the whistle on the tech giant, Haugen’s testimony was backed by dozens of research documents she’d copied before she left; accurately coined “The Facebook Files,” these papers proved that Facebook “…intentionally hides vital information from the public, from the US government, and from governments around the world.”

Executives of the company such as Monika Bickert and Mark Zuckerberg himself released statements that the information Haugen provided was taken out of context. The leaked research, however, shows otherwise. In one survey, 13.5% of teenage girls in the UK and 6% in America responded that their suicidal thoughts increased after using Instagram. Another found that roughly 32% of teen girls (presumably globally), or 1 in 3, experienced increased negative body image issues after scrolling through the photo-sharing platform.

According to the Wall Street Journal, over 40% of Instagram’s users are 22 years old and younger with approximately 22 million teenagers logging in each day, placing the app in a high profile, incredibly influential position for young people around the world.

Social Media Victims Center: The Attorney Taking On Social Media Giants

After reading the Facebook Files, attorney Matt Bergman, a product liability lawyer, started the Social Media Victims Center to aid and support families suffering at the hands of social media companies’ negligence. Representing the Spence and Roberts family, as well as the hundreds of other families pressing charges, Bergman told Alfonsi, “Time and time again, when they have an opportunity to choose between safety of our kids and profits, they always choose profits…I’m all for parental responsibility. But these products are explicitly designed to evade parental authority.”

Sometime next year Bergman and his team will begin the process for a federal case against Meta and others. This multi-million-dollar lawsuit, he says, is about more than just the money, but a plea for policy change. At this time, he outlines a three-pronged approach that addresses the lackadaisical, easily evaded age verification, the harmful and unnecessary algorithms, and a better way of ensuring that parents are informed. “Let’s be realistic, you’re never gonna have social media platforms be 100% safe. But, you know, these changes would make them safer.”

Social Media Addiction? Get The Help You Need

Despite it not being listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), research shows a strong correlation between social media use and signs/symptoms of other addictive behaviors. Because it is largely the way of the world and a huge form of communication these days, daily social media use might be normal or expected. Trouble arises when the scrolling and thoughts of the scrolling become excessive and consuming. Add in the influx of influencers and edited material designed to gain traction and attention and it’s no wonder teens in particular experience severe mental health consequences.

If you or someone you love is exhibiting signs of a social media addiction, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. There are resources available to assist you. Learn about online therapy and how it can be used to treat social media addiction, from the comfort and privacy of your own home.

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Country star—and one half of the duo, The Judds—Naomi Judd, has been public and honest about her struggle with severe depression for years. On April 30 of this year, the battle ended as the music star died by suicide at age 76; she is survived by her husband of 32 years, Larry Strickland and her two daughters, actress/activist, Ashley Judd and duo partner/country singer, Wynonna Judd.

If you or someone you love is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-8255 for 24/7 assistance.

Naomi Judd: An Outspoken Mental Health Advocate

According to one article written for People, Judd first began to struggle with crippling mental illness in 2012, following the wrap up of The Judd’s Last Encore tour. She had faced an empty void where long-suppressed memories of sexual abuse and other childhood traumas began to surface, causing a downward spiral into a state of depression. In an interview with Robin Roberts for Good Morning America back in 2016, with medication-induced trembling in her hands, she revealed a diagnosis that emphasized the intensity of her condition when she spoke of the vast disconnect between her public perception and her reality behind closed doors:

They see me in rhinestones, with glitter in my hair, that really is who I am. But then I would come home and not leave the house for 3 weeks, and not get out of my pajamas, and not practice normal hygiene; it was really bad…What I’ve been through is extreme; my final diagnosis was ‘severe depression: treatment resistant’ ‘cause they tried me on every single thing they had in their arsenal and I really felt like if I lived through this, I want someone to be able to see that they can survive ‘cause there’s 40 million of us out there.

Judd’s Heartfelt Thoughts In Letter Written For Mental Health Awareness Week

As if the situation was not devastating enough in light of the recent tragedy, a letter the singer wrote in 2018 during Mental Health Awareness Week has been re-shared. In this letter, she vocalizes the importance of de-stigmatizing mental illness so as to better understand suicide and the circumstances surrounding an act that for a vast majority of the population, seems unthinkable. Toward the top she writes, “As a singer who chronicled a lifetime battle with mental illness…and the recent deaths of chef Anthony Bourdain and designer Kate Spade, [it is] clear that no amount of fame or fortune can protect people from the despair that can lead some of us to take our own lives.”

Her death was publicized just 24 hours before she and daughter/duo partner Wynonna Judd were to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

A Note On Mental Health And Wellness

The news of Naomi Judd’s death comes just before the month of May, Mental Health Awareness Month for nearly 70 years. To raise consciousness and share the importance of overall mental and emotional wellbeing, the nonprofit organization, Mental Health America, decides on a general theme for the month every year. This year’s theme is “Mental Health Month—Life With a Mental Illness,” encouraging those who live with varying degrees of mental illness to share what it’s really like to experience the world as they do. Professionals believe that much of the stigma surrounding mental health and the subsequent care it deserves and requires could be eradicated if more people not only had a deeper overall understanding, but also a vocabulary of language to use. Like any other illness, particularly that which is more easily seen or understood, mental conditions come with their own host of challenges, shortcomings, and general experiences. It has been proven time and time again through heartache and devastation that sometimes, often, even, our minds are our own worst enemy; that just because symptoms are not external or otherwise visible, does not mean that they are any less real, any less detrimental to the person struggling.

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Like so many others, Judd’s heartbreaking story proves the depth and despair of mental illness. In a culture that praises health and wellness, we are reminded constantly of the discrepancy between physical wellbeing and that of the mind: it is often easier to overlook those who only suffer inside themselves than it is to insist on widespread mental health support. This Mental Health Awareness Month, share personal stories and experiences, live openly and honestly, and reach out to those who are struggling under the weight of an invisible force.

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Avicii, born Tim Bergling, was a popular DJ, songwriter, and producer from Sweden. With chart topping songs like “Levels” and “Wake Me Up”, Avicii’s music was genre re-defining. Despite the quick success Avicii experienced, the artist’s lifelong struggles with anxiety and addiction led to his death by suicide in 2018.

A recently released biography, written by Mans Mosesson, details how mental health concerns and addiction were present in the life of the Grammy nominated musician. For Moseeson’s Tim – The Official Biography Of Avicii, the author was granted access to Avicii’s personal journals. These journal entries reveal the extent at which the DJ was struggling during the years leading up to his death. 

Avicii’s Early Substance Use And Dissociation

Avicii was in high school when he smoked Marijuana for the first time. This experience caused an episode of paranoia for Bergling which resulted in feelings of derealization. He began to no longer feel connected to the world around him. In this state, Avicii confessed his substance use to his parents and expressed concern that the Marijuana had triggered a psychosis. They took him to a child psychologist who eased their worries. 

What Avicii was likely experiencing after first using Marijuana was a period of dissociation. This can be defined as a disconnect between a person’s memories, feelings, behaviors, perceptions, or sense of self. While dissociation is often mild, it can also become a disorder which can interfere with an individual’s daily life. Studies have shown that derealization can occur after an individual has used Marijuana, not as a cause of use but rather can be triggered by the substance. These feelings can present themselves after using for the first time or after extended, repeated use. 

Lifelong Struggles With Anxiety

Disassociation can also accompany the majority of psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety and depression. Avicii, who has often been described as a shy person, struggled with both of these conditions throughout his life. As a teen, he was self-conscious of his appearance, specifically his nose and acne. 

Fame, success, and the DJ lifestyle only heightened Avicii’s anxiety and substance use. Being recognized by fans in public, performance nerves, and a grueling tour schedule caused him to turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism. 

“It feels like I’m going to faint every single day now. And not just today and this tour but from about the first time I mentioned that I felt worn-out. Pretty regularly but I push it back down and choose not to bring it up because there’s nothing I can do about it,” he told his manager in 2011.  

Health Issues Caused By Avicii’s Substance Use

In 2012, at age 22, Avicii was admitted to the hospital with extreme stomach pains. It was determined that he was experiencing acute pancreatitis due to excessive alcohol use. Doctors instructed him to heal his stomach’s inflammation by avoiding junk food and staying sober for at least 6 months. During his hospital stay, he was also prescribed Oxycodone, an Opioid, to deal with the pain.   

Once back on tour, Avicii added pill popping to his old habits of poor eating, drinking, and not sleeping. In the journal entries featured in Mosesson’s book, he wrote, “Of course, I didn’t listen to the majority of doctors. I listened to the couple who said it would be okay if I was careful. I was ignorant and naive and touring the world, still on the never-ending tour because once you’ve circled it once, guess what? You start right back over again.” 

When stomach pains returned in 2013, doctors recommended that Avicii have his gallbladder removed. He opted to not have the procedure done until he had more free time in his schedule. The following year, his appendix ruptured and his gallbladder was removed. Both hospital stays resulted in more painkillers being prescribed. 

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An Intervention In Ibiza

Following his cycle of hospital visits, those closest to Avicii began to notice his behavior changing. He was often irritable and acted erratically. In 2014, his parents tried to help him with his Opioid addiction. He resisted their help and flew to Los Angeles where a personal doctor would write him prescriptions whenever he wanted. 

After two incidences of needing his stomach pumped from a mix of pills and alcohol, his friends and family staged an intervention. This intervention took place in Ibiza where Avicii was performing a few shows. He agreed to enter a tranquil and pricey treatment program on the Spanish island. It was during this 1 month of intensive, inpatient rehab, that Avicii came to understand that his addiction was a coping mechanism for his mental health struggles. 

“It needed to be explained to me very logically and caveman-esque for me to truly understand its nature and how it was harming me. Ouch, pain. Why me pain now? Uncomfortable feeling. Future Time deal with pain. Future deal with pain better than present Tim because already there’s too many present pains more urgent to deal with,” he wrote in his journals during the Ibiza treatment program. 

Avicii’s Life After Rehab

Once he completed his month in rehab, Avicii seemed to have a new outlook on life. He was meditating regularly, reading about the collective unconscious, and got a puppy. After not performing for a long period of time, he returned to the stage in 2016 at Miami’s Ultra Music Festival. It was announced a few days after this gig that he would not be performing live anymore. Avicii chose to not perform so that he could focus on bettering his mental health. 

Despite appearing to have new-found stability, Avicii still struggled to deal with his mental health issues. While continuing to suppress the anxiety and depression that he frequently felt, Avicii also started to become disinterested in his music career. During this time, he was smoking and drinking on occasion which may have resulted in a resurgence of his disassociation feelings. 

He told Tereza Kacerova, his girlfriend at the time, “What if everyone around me is just a projection in my mind? Sometimes I just think these things. About how nothing really matters.” 

Avicii started to focus heavily on meditation which he found to be helpful in clearing the “nonsense” from his mind. He believed that a deep form of meditation taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was a way to exercise his brain which he had decided would lead to his happiness. Despite this form of meditation typically being done in 20 minute increments, Avicii would sometimes spend full days meditating in an attempt to reach enlightenment faster. 

While on a trip to Muscat, Oman, one of Avicii’s friends called his father to express concerns for the DJ’s well-being. The friend described Avicii’s intense meditation and shared that he was refusing to eat, speak, or take shade from the sun. Just one day later, on April 20th, 2018, Avicii took his own life. Avicii was 28 years old. 

Addiction And Suicide

For Americans at all ages, suicide is among one of the leading causes of death. Those, like Avicii, who struggle with a substance use disorder (SUD), are at a higher risk for death by suicide. In fact, those who drink heavily are 5 times more likely to die by suicide than those who drink socially. Over the past few years, suicides related to Opioid addiction have nearly doubled. 

It is common for those at risk for suicide to struggle with addiction and other mental health risk factors like depression, anxiety, chronic illness, and a history of abuse. With drugs and alcohol being able to worsen these conditions while increasing aggressive behavior and lowering inhibitions, suicidal thoughts can occur. 

It is important to be able to recognize behavioral changes that might indicate a loved one may be suicidal. Behavioral signs include: 

• Admitting to feeling trapped, hopeless, or having no purpose in life 
• Isolating oneself 
• Oversleeping or trouble sleeping 
• Struggling to control anger 
• Physically harming oneself 

Relapsing can also be an indicator that an individual is having suicidal thoughts.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available to you for free, all hours of the day and night, at 1-800-273-8255.

The post What Avicii’s Journals From Rehab Reveal About His Mental Health appeared first on Addiction Center.

This Tuesday, Instagram debuted a new feature that they think can help to lower social media addiction amongst users. The photo sharing app’s “Take a break” tool was released after facing months of criticism for their child safety practices. The head of Instagram, Andrew Morresi, is set to appear before congress to address the topic on December 8th. 

Social Media Addiction

It is estimated that 10% of people in the US are experiencing an addiction to social media. While there is no medical diagnosis, overuse and compulsive social media behaviors can have negative effects on one’s physical and mental health. Research has shown that using social media can produce a similar dopamine increase to substance use. This chemical, which is associated with pleasure, is viewed by the brain as rewarding. This positive reinforcement is temporary, causing users to return to the app when it wears off. 

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While not everyone who uses social media will form an addiction, excessive use is a problem when it interferes with other aspects of an individual’s life. Negative effects of a social media addiction include:

• Low self-esteem 
• Feelings of loneliness and isolation
• Anxiety
• Depression 
• Disrupted sleep schedule
• Decreased school or work performance 
• Lack of empathy
• Not putting effort into “real life” relationships

What Is Instagram’s “Take A Break” Tool?

Instagram’s new “Take A Break” feature was designed to prevent social media addiction by urging users to close out the app after a set amount of time. Those who choose to utilize this setting must choose between 10, 20, or 30 minutes of use. After the selected amount of minutes has passed, users receive a full screen alert which includes suggested alternative activities. These suggestions include: taking a deep breath, writing something down, checking their to-do list, and listening to a song. 

This latest Instagram tool is available this week in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. The social media company has also said that they are developing other tools to address these issues. They intended on creating a tool that will allow users to delete comments, posts, and previous likes in bulk. Additionally, they are working on an educational hub to provide resources for parents, as well as manage and view their child’s social media use. 

Instagram’s Impact On Young People

In October of this year, a former employee of Meta (previously Facebook) supplied a series of internal documents to journalists. Known as “The Facebook Papers,” these documents revealed that the tech conglomerate had conducted research on how Instagram can impact the teens who use their app. Meta’s data showed that 1/3rd of teenage girls reported that Instagram made them feel worse about their bodies.

One of the insider documents, released by France Haugen, reads, “Comparisons on Instagram can change how young women view and describe themselves.”

Even with the knowledge of the potential damage to mental health and body image, the company had not made any changes to their services or engagement techniques. In response to the whistle blower’s claims, a bipartisan group of state attorney general’s initiated an investigation into Meta. The 11 states involved in this investigation intend on examining how Instagram works to increase frequency and engagement specifically for young people. 

Meta claims that the initial reporting of their data lacked context and did not include important information. They insist that the survey of young girls included 12 issues total and that using Instagram made them feel better in all of the 11 other categories. 

A spokesperson for Meta said, “These accusations are false and demonstrate a deep misunderstanding of the facts. While challenges in protecting young people online impact the entire industry, we’ve led the industry in combating bullying and supporting people struggling with suicidal thoughts, self-injury, and eating disorders.”

The company has also halted the development of a previously announced version of Instagram intended for only children to use. 

Is Instagram Designed For Addiction?

App developer Peter Mezyk spoke with Business Insider on the addictive qualities of social media platforms like Instagram. Mezyk told the site the ability of an app to introduce a new habit is often used to measure its success. Facebook and Instagram encourage habitual use because more time spent on the app increases their ad revenue. Mezyk described attention as currency in this situation. Because of this, it is believed that Instagram and Facebook are deliberately designed to lead to an addiction.

Mezyk also outlined the 3 criteria apps use to cause a habit to form: sufficient motivation, an action, and a trigger. This is called the “three-pronged approach” which is based on the Fogg Behavioral Model. Motivations are the reason users open an app, such as feeling like they might be missing out on something. Receiving a notification, and other triggers, cause users to click on the app. Actions, like tapping the like button, begin the behavioral loop. 

Mezyk believes that apps are mostly designed to be addictive because they don’t prioritize ethics. “The reason some apps are addictive is that most companies first ask themselves how they can make money with them – but ethical app development focuses on the user,” Mezyk said. 

Holding Meta Accountable

This week a group of around 300 scientists from the psychology, technology, and health fields penned an open letter to Mark Zuckerberg. These scientists have asked Meta’s CEO to allow outside researchers in to evaluate potential negative mental health effects from their apps.

It was stated in this letter that the group does not think that the leaked research alone proves the damage caused by Meta. They also wrote that the issues of teen and child mental health are too serious for Meta to withhold their data. 

Instagram’s CEO, Adam Mosseri, will testify under oath in front of congress for the first time this week. This panel, which is a subcommittee of the senate’s Commerce Committee, will be led by Senator Richard Blumenthal. He has said that he intends on asking questions about the app’s algorithms and how they can affect how children engage on the app. The panel is hoping to get Instagram to commit to being transparent about their rankings and recommendations. Executives at Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube have already made a similar commitment. 

In addition to Instagram’s new “Take a break” setting, they have said they want to take a stricter approach when recommending content to teens. They plan to do so by actively suggesting alternative topics when young users have spent too much time viewing any type of content.

While these new measures aim to lower social media addiction, many individuals may still want to consider treatment for social media addiction. If you’re interested in learning more about online therapy options for social media addiction, click here.

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Since 2014, there has been a noticeable decrease in American life expectancy. A large factor in this decline is called the disease of despair. This phenomenon displays the connection between increased hopelessness and depression, suicide/suicidal thoughts, and alcohol-related diseases. The term is defined as, “diagnoses related to alcohol misuse, substance misuse, and suicide ideation and behaviors,” according to the medical journal BMJ Open. Despair can be contained in several categories, ranging from the emotional despair of loneliness, anxiety, a loss of faith in self, mankind or a higher power, loss of finances or job opportunities, and a general feeling of lack, despair is not uncommon for many Americans.

Despite the focal point of studies surrounding the disease of despair, there are additional factors that make the disease of despair concerning. The term death of despair has been linked to such conditions due to the suicidal tendencies individuals suffering from diseases of despair often have. The onset and prevalence of COVID-19 have contributed to increases in deaths of despair and diseases of despair-based substance use disorders. Challenges in facing the uncertainty of financial instability, depression, and/or individuals left hopeless amidst restrictions from the virus, or those dying from the virus. As a result, increases in addiction due to challenging mental health states have been more common.

Diseases Of Despair, Death Of Despair, And Statical Findings

Much study has occurred to decipher if diseases of despair contribute to mortality, substance abuse, and challenging mental health states. The common denominator has yielded troubling findings. The “diseases of despair” have contributed to a “68% increase” diagnosis in Americans over the course of 9 years. In addition to the disease of despair prognosis spikes, the BMJ journal cited 58.5% of the diagnosed population included men, with 55 to 74 as the primary age range.

According to another source, men aged 35 to 77 were the main focal groups affiliated with the disease of despair. Similarly, women aged 18 to 34, and 55 to 74 were most associated with the condition. Out of the 150,000 Americans who died from alcohol and drug-induced fatalities and suicides in 2017, nearly 48,000 resulted from suicide. Lastly, suicide-related thoughts and general deaths of despair conditions, often consequential of substance abuse-related health problems (liver disease, cirrhosis) occurred in middle-aged individuals. Much of this was due to economic insecurity-related despair.

Diseases Of Despair, Alcoholism, And Opioid Abuse

While individuals may not necessarily always have suicidal actions they choose to take, the grief one suffers from feelings of hopelessness, depression, and general grief can cause some to believe substances like alcohol or Opioids, for example, can improve matters. Unfortunately, such habits make matters worse, creating dependencies and addictions, which can further depression. Furthermore, the combination of toxic chemicals and the state of despair can easily contribute to suicidal ideation, self-harm, and death.

The onslaught on America’s Opioid crisis remains present in diseases and deaths of despair; fortunately, numbers are decreasing in Opioid abuse, but still remain high. Starting from the intention to ease chronic pain, many patients have found themselves addicted to the euphoria potent Opioids create. As a result, some may increase the dosage, seeking to use the chemical or chemicals to relieve depression, anxiety, or irritability.

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Signs Of Suicide, Addiction And Self-Harm

Being able to recognize signs of addiction, suicide. and self-harm, especially in relation to diseases of despair may help someone struggling. According to the science news website Live Science, signs of suicide include, but are not limited to:

• Depression

• Panic attacks

• Feelings of hopelessness

• Irritability

• Talking of suicide

• Attempts of suicide

• Increased alcohol abuse

• Increased drug abuse

In the case of addiction signs, general things to look out for can include:

• Increased alcohol abuse

• Increased drug abuse

• Polydrug use

• Inability to stop substance use

• Developing a drug tolerance

• Developing an alcohol tolerance

• Withdrawal symptoms

• Trouble with the law due to substance abuse

• Risky or dangerous behavior

• Doctor shopping

• Poor academic or work performance due to drug use

• Changes in weight and appearance due to drug use

• Using substances to “feel normal”

If or a loved one suffers suicide ideation or has suicidal tendencies, know there is help. Contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. If addiction is included in the equation, consider rehab to provide detox, medications, and one-on-one counseling for substance abuse.

The post Diseases Of Despair appeared first on Addiction Center.

During the week of Thanksgiving, the United States surpassed 267,000 COVID-19 related deaths. The spike in cases has the country scrambling as companies race to approve a vaccine. Since the start of the year, the media and governments worldwide have remained focused on the urgent health crisis. Yet, as COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the states, another epidemic is growing in its shadows. 

The 2020 Opioid Epidemic 

The Opioid epidemic is picking up momentum once again. In a recent study published by the Vermont Department of Health, the rate of Opioid-related overdoses rose. Non-fatal overdoses climbed up 137% from 2019 to 2020. Experts suspect that drug-related deaths will be even higher. 

The global pandemic is creating the perfect conditions for a deadly storm. Why? There is no exact reason, but loneliness is a significant contributor. According to the National Institutes of Health, loneliness increases the probability of making hazardous choices. The sensation is a leading risk factor for depression, anxiety, and comorbidity. Since most of 2020 has centered around social distancing and protecting the public, it is no surprise people are lonelier than ever. The distancing measures have helped contain the spread of the disease yet also led to higher loneliness rates. 

Other reasons for the jumps are disrupting drug supply and the end of in-person prevention and treatment services. Based on data released by the White House’s drug policy office, the long term effects of the COVID-19 crisis are already being felt. By April of this year, drug overdose deaths were up 11.4%. Non-fatal overdoses were also up 18.6% in comparison to 2019. 

Below are some of the states dealing with a rise in drug overdose fatalities based on recently released data: 

• Connecticut, up 19%
• Colorado, up 28%
• Kentucky, up 30%
• Cook County, Illinois, up 28% 
• Maryland, up 9.1%

The states listed are only some of the many dealing with a rise in drug-related deaths. These numbers are shocking, but unfortunately, it is not the first time this has happened. 

The Opioid Epidemic Throughout The Years 

For over 30 years, Opioids have been wreaking havoc in the United States. The first fatal wave of the epidemic began in the 1990s. During those early years, pharmaceutical companies pushed medical professionals to prescribe the drug. Their aggressive campaign lasted nearly a decade. Eventually, through misleading marketing and false claims, those companies succeeded in making Opioids mainstream. 

By reassuring that Opioids had little to no health risks, big pharmaceutical companies caused a ripple, leading to the Opioid epidemic. Countless physicians over-prescribed the painkiller. Within a few years, communities across the country were hooked and feeling the drug’s destructive effects. 

Outbreaks quickly sprouted in different cities. The first Opioid wave in 1999 killed thousands of individuals. The next big surge started in 2002 and lasted nearly a decade. From 2002 to 2013, heroin-related overdoses increased by 286%. Within 11 years, the age-adjusted drug overdose death rate doubled. In 2000, 6.2 people were overdosing per 100,000 persons. Four years later, the number rose to 14.7 per 100,000. The third wave was caused by synthetic Opioids like Fentanyl and started in 2013. By 2016, 63,600 people had died from a drug overdose. The age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths rose by 21%. This surge was the deadliest, with over 19.8 people overdosing per 100,000 persons. 

Opioids Today

Today the Opioid epidemic is once again picking up momentum. In 2019, 18 states and the District of Columbia reported a 10% increase in Opioid-related fatalities. Drug overdoses rose 4.6%, with over 70,980 recorded deaths. This uptick follows a decline reported in 2018 after 30 years of increasing cases. The Trump administration considered the short-lived win as one of their most outstanding achievements. Unfortunately, according to preliminary federal data, the number of lethal overdoses in 2019 surpassed 2018’s cases and even 2017’s. The amount of Opioid-related deaths are expected to rise even further this year. Experts are projecting more than 75,000 people dying from suicide or drug and alcohol use. 

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Since one of the main themes of this year is social distancing, it is no surprise that loneliness has pushed many people towards drugs. The current pandemic, economic downturn, and political climate are pushing people past their limits. Humans should not be isolated from one another or under constant stress. The pandemic, fear, and loneliness are driving Americans to use Opioids for relief. We must not forget about the deadly epidemic that is still destroying the lives of families worldwide. The Opioid epidemic is not over yet. 

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In November 2019, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) published a documentary on a suicide network of young women on the popular social media application Instagram. Journalist Annemarte Moland works for NRK, a Norwegian government-owned radio and television public broadcasting company. Moland found the online community when she went to a Norwegian town to do a story on 3 teenage girls who had committed suicide. One of the girls had a private Instagram account where she posted thoughts about suicide and self-harm.

This account was part of a network of over 1,000 similar accounts, where young people could share posts on depression, self-harm, and the desire to kill themselves. The average age of girls in this network are 19. There is an unspoken rule throughout these private accounts: don’t snitch. The network offers friendship and support which draws troubled teens to it, but also encourages them to post extreme self-harming images. The darker the post, the more likes and comments it receives. BBC reporter Catrin Nye spoke to one of the girls in the network, “she feels although the Instagram community could be very supportive, she also experienced people saying things like ‘your cut isn’t big enough.’ She says there was a sense of competition as to who was the sickest,” said Nye.

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The Lifeguard

Twenty-two-year-old Ingebjørg Blindheim is part of the suicide network, but not for the same reasons as other members. The Norwegian woman struggled with an eating disorder as a teen and was receiving in-patient treatment for her mental health issues, along with her best friend. Once released, Blindheim was working towards getting better, but her best friend said if she was sent home, she would kill herself. She followed through with her words and took her own life.

Today, Blindheim is keeping an eye on 450 private Instagram accounts for at-risk teen girls. She monitors the pages for the chance of saving girls like her best friend. When users’ posts on suicide accelerate, she notifies the police to check in. Norwegian journalists have nicknamed her the lifeguard.

Teen Suicide Statistics

So far, at least 15 Norwegian girls from the network have committed suicide. In February 2019, Instagram banned all graphic images of self-harm and restricted content showing suicidal themes, but users still find ways to express their troubles online.

An American study from Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that the suicide rate for girls aged 10 to 14 has increased 3-fold. Previously, females had higher rates of nonfatal suicidal behavior, but are now using more violent measures such as hanging and suffocation. Violent suicide attempts are much more likely to lead to death compared to non-violent attempts.

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Substance Abuse And Suicide

The National Survey of Drug Use and Health surveyed over 2,000 teens aged 12 to 17 who used potentially injectable drugs and had signs of depression. Eighty-two percent of the teenagers reported suicidal ideation, 45% had made a suicide attempt, and 40% had a history of a suicide plan. Of the kids who had a plan, 82% had made an attempt at some point. Teens who struggle with depression while injecting drugs are at a great risk for suicide. Other studies have shown an association between depression and alcohol or general drug use. Teenagers who suffer from any of these issues should receive professional treatment immediately.

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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has made a monumental move towards suicide prevention efforts by unanimously approving the proposal for a new national suicide prevention hotline. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the importance of rapid access to crisis intervention and suicide prevention services has never been more critical than it is now. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that there has been a 33% increase in suicide rates from 1999 to 2017, with an almost 4% increase from 2016 to 2017 alone. The proposal, which comes from the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2018, was approved by the 5 members of the commission on December 12^th, and is currently open for public comments.

National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act

The original report for the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act presented to Congress in 2018 found that using a shorter and easier to remember number would make it easier for people in crisis to access potentially life-saving resources. The act directed the FCC, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Mental Health and Substance Use and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to analyze the effectiveness of the current hotline, including how well it addresses the needs of Veterans. Unfortunately, suicide rates are higher among at-risk populations such as Veterans and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) communities. According to the CDC, more than 20 Veterans die by suicide each day and LGBTQ youth are three times more likely to contemplate suicide.

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1-800-273-8255 (TALK) was launched as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) in 2005 by SAMHSA and Vibrant Emotional Health, a mental health nonprofit. Calls to the current number are routed to the closest certified local crisis centers and, if a center is ever busy or experiencing issues, the system automatically routes callers to a backup center. Counselors for the Lifeline are trained to assess callers for suicide risk, provide crisis counseling, crisis intervention, and engage emergency services when needed. Over 2.2 million calls were answered by Lifeline Counselors in 2018 and evidence has shown that the hotline is effective in reducing suicidal ideation and attempts.

Congress also gave the FCC the task of examining the feasibility of establishing a new, simple and easy-to remember 3-digit number, to be used as the official suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system in the United States. The approval of the proposal will initiate the rule making process for establishing 988 as the 3-digit code to call. Commissioners believe the number 988 could be implemented more easily and quickly than repurposing another existing 3-digit number. Some have called this new hotline the “911 for the brain.”

Implementing The New National Suicide Prevention And Mental Health Crisis Hotline

The approved proposal will require cellphone carriers to implement the new 3-digit number within the next 18 months. Estimated costs for this transition will cost about $570 million in the first year, $175 million in the second, and will be used to increase capacity at crisis centers and public awareness. Bills approved by the Senate Commerce Committee would authorize states to collect fees aimed at ensuring that local crisis centers will be able to support the increase in volume.

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This move towards establishing a new and easier-to-remember number as the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is believed to be an important step in reducing stigma surrounding the topic of suicide. There is hope that a number resembling the well-known emergency line, 911, will reinforce the idea that it’s OK to seek help in times of extreme depression or anxiety.  The FCC will work alongside Congress to create and support the new 3-digit hotline while ensuring that States have the flexibility to make it work.

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