Changing the Narrative on Suicide and Substance Use Disorders

Changing the Narrative and Changing Lives

September marks Suicide Prevention Month, and this year’s theme is all about “changing the narrative.” It’s a crucial moment to shine a light on the often-overlooked connection between substance use disorders and suicide, while offering some proven community solutions. The harsh reality is that people struggling with substance use are more than five times as likely to be at risk for suicide. To truly change the narrative, it’s essential to recognize the need for accessible substance use disorder treatment and ongoing mental health support.

At HCN, we’re working to make substance use disorder treatment and mental health support accessible by delivering comprehensive, culturally responsive, and person-centered services to those who need them most. Our approach starts on the ground, with the community. 

People who use drugs and community members alike have participated in our culturally responsive prevention and education efforts through ad campaigns, community outreach, and workshops that promote awareness of substance use disorders, opportunities for recovery, and best practices for harm reduction. Our programs reduce stigma and promote hope by fostering trusting, nonjudgmental relationships and viewing substance use through a compassionate, humanizing lens.

Key ways to reduce stigma and promote hope:

Meeting people with dignity instead of judgment reduces stigma.

Program Staff and Street Outreach Teams emphasized that they were able to facilitate open conversations and trusting relationships by engaging in active listening and recognizing that substance use is a response to trauma and other underlying stressors, rather than being a personal failure. 

Offering hope and building trust through lived experience.

Program Staff and Street Outreach Teams described drawing upon their experiences with SUD and recovery to break down misconceptions that people who use drugs are unable to recover. Their journeys fostered mutual understanding, showed that recovery is possible, and encouraged participants to engage in services.

Developing Communications with community input.

HCN launched a digital outreach campaign, reaching people where they are in their daily lives, to:

• Raise awareness of opioid and fentanyl risks

• Promote Naloxone and overdose prevention behaviors

• Reduce stigma around substance use and recovery

• Highlight treatment, recovery, and support services

• Deliver culturally relevant messaging for priority populations

Altogether, campaign materials reached 18,647,105 community members. ​But beyond the numbers, our program impact is also deeply personal. One of our workshop participants shares a story of understanding:

“I learned that you can't judge people or just tell them what to do. Everybody has their own story, so it's really about listening and understanding where they're coming from. I also learned about harm reduction, like helping people stay safe instead of expecting them to just stop right away. Showing respect, being patient, and building trust is what really helps people feel comfortable enough to open up.”

Changing the narrative requires supporting people, reducing stigma, and helping our community achieve healthier outcomes. Lasting change starts with compassion, understanding, and community action. By listening to each person’s story and meeting people where they are, we break down stigma and create real hope. Together, we can build a future where everyone has the support they need to recover, thrive, and feel connected. 

That’s how we change the narrative. That’s how we change lives.

For Immediate Support:

• If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available 24/7:Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (in the US and Canada).

• Chat online at 988 Lifeline.