“It Takes a Village”: National Recovery and Suicide Prevention Month blog

September marks two important observances in our ongoing dialogue on mental health and substance abuse: National Recovery Month and National Suicide Prevention Month. This month reminds us of the profound toll that mental health and substance use problems take on individuals, families, and communities, and highlights the urgent need for a coordinated response to these co-morbid challenges.

In the United States alone, over 49,000 lives were lost to suicide in 2024, marking a 37% increase since 2000. That same year, drug overdoses claimed more than 80,000 American lives—a decline from the record high of 110,000 deaths in 2023– but still an alarming and largely preventable loss of life. Systemic barriers, including lack of access to health care, widespread social stigma, and under-funding of suicide prevention and recovery services, cause far too many people to suffer in silence and far too few to receive the support they need.

In 2017, Whittier Street Health Center launched its first “It Takes a Village” Campaign to address the growing burden of premature deaths from opioid overdose impacting our service area. This campaign bolstered a number of evidence-based, effective strategies to engage patients with substance use and mental health conditions in long-term treatment and recovery services, helping to expand access to Naloxone (Narcan), non-opioid pain management, and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in our community.

Now in its eighth year, “It Takes a Village” continues to serve as a powerful reminder that providing compassionate, evidence-based care can save and transform lives. We are proud to continue this tradition with our 2025 “It Takes a Village” event— a day of connection and education focused on preventing opioid overdose and supporting those affected by substance use and mental health challenges. Join us on Wednesday, September 10th at Whittier Street Health Center from 12 – 2 PM to hear community members, patients and guest speakers discuss strategies to combat the overdose crisis, share their personal stories of recovery, and more. Together, we’re committed to ensuring that no one faces mental illness or addiction alone, and that healing and hope are within reach for all.

If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health or substance use, please know that help is always available. Our Behavioral Health department provides comprehensive and culturally responsive therapy, group counseling, and medication management services. For more information, please call (617) 858-2429 or visit https://www.wshc.org/services/behavioral-health/.

Additionally, you can consult the resources below for additional support:

• 988 Crisis Line – Call or text 988 anytime for free, confidential mental health and crisis support from trained counselors.
• SafeSpot Hotline– This 24/7, free and confidential helpline (call 1–800-972-0590) connects people who are using drugs alone with a trained operator who can call for emergency services in the event of an overdose.
• Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line — This statewide service connects callers with clinical behavioral health and substance use services, and does not require health insurance (call (833) 773-2445).