Intentional Overdose: Mental Health Support and Crisis Resources You Can Trust
When someone takes too many pills on purpose, it’s not just a medical emergency-it’s a cry for help. Intentional overdose is one of the most common ways people attempt suicide, especially among teens and middle-aged adults. It’s not always about wanting to die. Often, it’s about wanting the pain to stop. And right now, thousands of people in the U.S. are making that choice every year, using medications they can find in their own medicine cabinets.
The numbers are grim, but they’re not the whole story. In 2024, overdose deaths dropped by nearly 27% compared to 2023. That’s over 27,000 fewer lives lost. But here’s what most people don’t realize: that drop is mostly from accidental overdoses linked to opioids and street drugs. The number of people using overdoses to end their lives? That hasn’t fallen nearly as much. And for every death, there are dozens more who survive-sometimes with permanent liver damage from acetaminophen, brain injury from lack of oxygen, or kidneys that never fully recover.
Why Do People Choose Overdose as a Method?
It’s not because they’re weak or impulsive. It’s because overdose feels accessible. No gun. No rope. Just a bottle of pills you’ve been taking for anxiety, pain, or sleep. For a 16-year-old, it might be leftover antibiotics or their mom’s antidepressants. For a 50-year-old, it could be prescription painkillers they’ve been hoarding for months. The method is quiet. It’s private. And in their mind, it’s less violent than other options.
But it’s not painless. Survivors often describe hours of nausea, vomiting, confusion, and a slow, terrifying descent into unconsciousness. Many end up in intensive care. Some need liver transplants. Others live with chronic pain or memory loss. And even if they survive, the shame, guilt, and isolation can be worse than the attempt itself.
Who’s Most at Risk?
The people most likely to attempt suicide by overdose aren’t the ones you’d expect. It’s not just the visibly depressed or the ones who talk about it. It’s the quiet ones. The ones who still go to work. Who text back. Who smile in group chats.
According to the CDC, middle-aged adults (ages 45-64) have the highest suicide rates in the U.S.-20.2 deaths per 100,000 people. Adolescents are close behind. In 2024, 10.1% of teens reported serious thoughts of suicide. And while white individuals still make up the largest number of deaths, Black and American Indian/Alaska Native communities face the highest rates of fatal overdose attempts per capita.
There’s also a rural crisis. In small towns and farming communities, suicide rates are 25% higher than in cities. Why? Fewer therapists. Longer drives to clinics. Fewer crisis centers. And in many places, calling for help means driving 40 minutes to the nearest hospital-time most people don’t have when they’re in crisis.
What’s Working? The 988 Lifeline and Other Crisis Lines
Since 988 launched in July 2022, it’s become the most-used suicide prevention tool in U.S. history. In 2024, it handled 4.7 million calls, texts, and chats. That’s a 32% jump from the year before. People are reaching out. And many are being saved.
One Reddit user, 'AnxietySurvivor89', wrote: “I called 988 after swallowing 30 pills. The counselor stayed on the line for 18 minutes until the ambulance arrived. That’s the only reason I’m here.”
But here’s the problem: the system is stretched thin. Wait times for the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline jumped from 2.4 minutes in 2022 to 5.7 minutes in 2024. In some states, callers get busy signals. In others, counselors are working 12-hour shifts with no breaks. And 42% of people seeking same-day crisis help can’t get through at all.
There’s also Crisis Text Line-text HOME to 741741. It handles over 3 million conversations a year, with a median response time of just 37 seconds. For teens who hate talking on the phone, it’s a lifeline. But even this service is underfunded. Staff turnover is high. Training is inconsistent.
The Treatment Gap: Why People Don’t Get Help Before It’s Too Late
Here’s the hardest truth: most people who attempt suicide by overdose didn’t get help before they reached that point. Why? Because mental health care is broken.
In the U.S., there’s one mental health provider for every 320 people who need help. That’s not a shortage-it’s a collapse. And it’s worse for low-income families, rural communities, and teens. Many can’t afford therapy. Others can’t get insurance to cover it. Some are afraid of being reported to their parents if they’re under 18.
Only 52.1% of adults with a mental illness got any treatment in 2024. That means nearly half of the people struggling were left to manage alone. And when you’re drowning in depression, anxiety, or trauma, waiting weeks for an appointment isn’t help-it’s a death sentence.
What Can You Do? Real Steps to Help Someone
You don’t need to be a therapist to save a life. You just need to show up.
- Ask directly: “Are you thinking about killing yourself?” No sugarcoating. No fear of planting the idea. Asking saves lives.
- Don’t leave them alone: Stay with them. Drive them to the ER. Call 988 with them. Sit on the phone while they wait for an ambulance.
- Remove access to means: If they’ve been hoarding pills, take them away. Lock up medications. Even if they’re mad at you, you’re saving their life.
- Connect them to 988: Don’t just give them the number. Dial it with them. Say, “I’m here while you talk.”
- Follow up: Check in the next day. The week after. People who feel seen are less likely to try again.
And if you’re the one struggling? Call 988. Text HOME to 741741. Go to the nearest ER. You don’t have to be “bad enough” to get help. You don’t have to wait until you’re ready. You’re already worthy of care.
The Bigger Picture: Funding Is on the Line
The progress we’ve seen in reducing overdose deaths is fragile. In 2026, Congress is considering cutting SAMHSA’s budget by $1.07 billion. That’s $480 million in state-level suicide prevention programs gone. That’s hundreds of crisis counselors laid off. That’s 988 lines going dark in rural counties.
Experts warn: without sustained funding, suicide rates could rise 8-12% by 2027. That’s thousands more deaths. Thousands more families shattered.
But here’s the hope: we know what works. We know that expanding access to therapy, raising minimum wages, and training more crisis responders reduces suicide attempts. We know that when people get help, they live. We’ve seen it.
The question isn’t whether we can fix this. It’s whether we choose to.
Resources You Can Use Right Now
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988. Available 24/7. Free. Confidential.
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741. Get connected to a trained counselor in minutes.
- SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Free, confidential, 24/7. For substance use and mental health referrals.
- The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ youth): 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678.
- Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988 then press 1. Or text 838255.
- Online peer support: r/suicidewatch on Reddit (moderated, safe space). Not a replacement for professional help, but a place to be heard.
These services aren’t perfect. But they’re here. And they’re saving lives every day.
Soren Fife
I'm a pharmaceutical scientist dedicated to researching and developing new treatments for illnesses and diseases. I'm passionate about finding ways to improve existing medications, as well as discovering new ones. I'm also interested in exploring how pharmaceuticals can be used to treat mental health issues.