Mental Health Issues & Lyme Disease
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-8255
Suicide Survivor Has A Message For You
CAUTION!
Some people who die by suicide
Do not show any warning signs
Untreated depression is the
Number one cause for suicide
Infections affecting the brain can cause a person to experience a variety of mild to severe signs and symptoms. Lyme and tick borne disease infections are no exception.
A recent study by Dr. Robert Bransfield, an early pioneer and Lyme literate expert, estimates there are approximately 1,200 deaths from Lyme related suicides each year in the United States. Source
Support From The Lyme Community- Lyme disease support group leaders are volunteers working to assist people as they are able (not on call 24/7). None of them are formally trained to advise, handle or treat mild to severe depression or any other psychiatric issues. Professional avenues of support should be explored immediately if someone is having emotional or mental health issues.
In an emergency situation it doesn’t matter if the person at risk for suicide has Lyme disease when it comes to getting help for depression, anxiety or any mental illnesses.
A Lyme patient does not need to wait to seek Lyme literate professionals in an emergency situation.
The most important steps to take are to enlist the help of a trained psychiatrist or psychologist ASAP and have the person in need of help treated until stable. This may warrrent a trip to the Emergency Room. Additional medical conditions can be addressed once that is accomplished.
If the person requiring assistance has a Lyme treating health care professional you can call their office for a referral in a non-emergency situation. The office should have a list of who they refer their patients to for psychiatric intervention and treatment.
Lyme Treating Health Care Professionals- Nationwide
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Last Update-August 2019
Lucy Barnes