Tangled Darkness includes themes of alcoholism, the opioid addiction epidemic, and severe mental illness. In the United States, now more than two years into the pandemic, rates of substance abuse and mental health distress have escalated beyond their pre-pandemic high levels. This entry is designed to provide resources for those who are experiencing problems in these areas, either personally or in their circle of family and friendship.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help
The National Institute of Mental Health is focused on the understanding and treatment of mental illness. Use the link above to get help finding mental healthcare resources.
As of 2020, nearly one in five US adults live with a mental illness. Finding referrals for mental health care was difficult before the pandemic. Now, after prolonged COVID-related stress, the difficulty is compounded by increasing demand and strained mental healthcare workers. The federal government has a mental health and substance abuse referral line, also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service, at 1-800-662-4357. An increase in call rates of 27% occurred between 2019 and 2020. In December 2021, the US Surgeon General issued an advisory (https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/12/07/us-surgeon-general-issues-advisory-on-youth-mental-health-crisis-further-exposed-by-covid-19-pandemic.html) on the nation’s need to address our youth mental health crisis.
https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/treatment
The National Institute on Drug Abuse has a commitment to advance the science on addiction and carry that forward to advance public health. Use this link to find resources for substance abuse treatment.
In the United States drug overdose deaths exceeded 100,000 last year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show a near doubling of overdose annual deaths in 2021, as compared to those in 2015. A recent study (JAMA. 2022;327(17):1704-1706) done by researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol and Alcoholism, reported increases in the rates of drinking during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Related harms include rising emergency department visits for alcohol withdrawal. The number of deaths involving alcohol between 2019 and 2020 increased by more than 25%.
The new 988 mental health hotline
As of July 16, 2022 a new mental health crisis line is operating nationally. It’s a shorthand version of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255). Similar in its easy to remember format like 911, 988 is not just for those experiencing suicidality, but for their loved ones as well. 988 is anonymous, and is open to anyone in emotional distress specifically related to a person in a mental health, substance abuse or any type of crisis. A Crisis Text Line is also available 24/7, free, and offering confidential support to people in crisis when they text HELLO to 741741.
