CONTENTS

About This Course

Table of Contents

1. The Nature and Scope of Suicide
2. Recognizing the Progressive Development of Suicide
3. Substance Abuse as a Major Contributor to Suicide
4. Suicide Across the Life Span
5. Special Populations and Suicide Risk
6. Prevention and Early Intervention for Suicide and Substance Abuse Problems

Supplements
References
Resources

Holding the Lifeline
A Guide to Suicide Prevention

Barriers to Seeking Care

Despite the prevalence of mental illness and suicidal behaviors, all too often people face barriers to seeking care. When it comes to seeking care for co-occurring conditions such as depression and substance abuse, the barriers are even greater.

The stigma associated with mental illnesses and substances abuses may be higher among some groups. For example:

• Rural Americans who may have had little exposure or access to the mental health service system
• Racial and ethnic minority groups who may hesitate to seek treatment in the current system
• People whose primary language is not English ref