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James Donaldson on Mental Health – ‘Alcohol can exacerbate underlying mental health issues’: Alcohol use linked to suicide and self-harm, studies find
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The study showed that — of people who took their own lives in Cork for whom toxicology reports are available — 50.8% of people under 25 years, 48% of those aged 25 to 54, and 24.1% of those aged 55 or over had alcohol in their system.
AMY CAMPBELL
ALMOST half of people who died by suicide in Cork had alcohol in their system at the time, a newly published report by the Health Research Board shows.
The report, titled ‘Alcohol: availability, affordability, related harm, and policy in Ireland’, published yesterday, looks at the link between suicide and alcohol. It found that younger people who took their own life were more likely to have alcohol in their system.
The study showed that — of people who took their own lives in Cork for whom toxicology reports are available — 50.8% of people under 25 years, 48% of those aged 25 to 54, and 24.1% of those aged 55 or over had alcohol in their system.
One person affected by the issue, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Echo: “In the end, my breaking point was something very small, but I had been drinking for days and was beginning to sober up and everything I had to do that day just seemed impossible.
“At the time, I didn’t see another way out. I knew I couldn’t continue drinking the way I was or I was going to lose my job, my home, and all my family and friends.”
“I hadn’t felt happiness when I was sober in a long time, so I didn’t want to live without alcohol, but I knew it couldn’t go on like this much longer either, I knew that there was even more pain in the future if I did,” they said.
#James Donaldson notes: Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes. Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use. Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.#http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle Find out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundation website www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book, #CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
“Luckily, I did not succeed in taking my own life, and it served as something of a wake-up call, though I had a difficult few months still to face after that, I emerged from it and haven’t had a drink in over a year.
“The dark thoughts went away when I stopped drinking, I haven’t thought about suicide once since getting sober, and before it was a constant thought, it was always in the back of my head as a last resort in case things got too bad, it was almost comforting.
“Now, I see how messed up that thinking was.”
The report by the Health Research Board cites a study which examined 307 cases of suicide that had occurred in Cork, where toxicology was available for 298 of the 307 cases.
In 141 of those cases, alcohol was detected in the toxicology, with young people far more likely to have consumed alcohol prior to their deaths.
The study showed that among the 298 cases, 50.8% of people under 25 years, 48% of people aged between 25 and 54, and 24.1% of those aged 55 or over had alcohol in their system.
It also showed that where the information was available, a history of alcohol or other drug abuse was noted in 61% of the suicide cases.
Mick Devine – Clinical Director of Tabor Group, who oversees two alcohol treatment centres in Cork, told The Echo: “Studies have shown that individuals struggling with alcohol abuse or dependence are at a significantly higher risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors compared to the general population.
“Alcohol can exacerbate underlying mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, which are major contributors to suicidal ideation.
“It’s important to note that while alcohol can significantly elevate the risk of suicidal ideation and attempts, not everyone who struggles with alcohol use will experience suicidal thoughts.
“However, addressing alcohol misuse is crucial in suicide prevention efforts, as reducing alcohol consumption can alleviate some of the risk factors associated with suicidal behavior and improve overall mental health and well-being.”
A link between alcohol and self-harm was also found in another study on Cork in the same report, which examined 8,145 cases of emergency department presentations of self-harm in the county.
It found that “alcohol was involved in 21% of the self-harm presentations, although the study authors noted an under-recording of alcohol use in case notes”, meaning that the figure is potentially higher.
“It is common for people to drink to try to relieve the symptoms of poor mental health, but drinking can also lead to poor mental health,” notes the report.
“Alcohol is a depressant; it causes chemical changes in the brain and can lead to anger, depression, or anxiety.
“It also affects the brain by slowing down the processing of information, making it more difficult to make logical decisions.”
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James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
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