The Silence Between the Words

Alex was 27, quiet but kind, always ready to help at church events or lend a hand at the food bank. He had a gentle smile and a way of making others feel seen. But lately, something had shifted.

He stopped showing up for Wednesday night fellowship. When asked, he said he was “just tired.” He missed two Sunday services in a row, which was unlike him. His social media posts became vague and sombre, with quotes about pain, silence, and endings.

One day, his friend Marcus noticed Alex had given away his guitar, something he cherished. “I just don’t play anymore,” Alex said with a shrug. “It’s better in someone else’s hands.”

Marcus tried to reach out. “You okay, man?”

Alex smiled faintly. “I’m fine. Just tired of everything.”

That phrase stuck with Marcus. He remembered a workshop at church about mental health, where they talked about warning signs, withdrawal, giving away possessions, and expressions of hopelessness.

Later that week, Alex posted: “Sometimes the weight is too much. I want it all to stop.”

Marcus didn’t wait. He called Alex, then drove to his apartment. They talked for hours. Marcus didn’t try to fix anything; he just listened. He reminded Alex he wasn’t alone. Together, they called a local crisis line and scheduled a visit with a counsellor.

Recognizing the Signs

Alex’s story is fictional, but the signs are real. People struggling with suicidal thoughts may:

• Withdraw from social or spiritual activities
• Express feelings of hopelessness or being a burden
• Give away meaningful possessions
• Speak in vague or dark language like:
  • “I’m tired of everything.”
  • “You’d be better off without me.”
  • “I just want it all to stop.”

What You Can Do

• Listen without judgment. Don’t try to fix it; just be present.
• Ask directly but gently. “Are you thinking about hurting yourself?” can open a door.
• Encourage professional help. Offer to go with that person or help make the call.
• Know your resources. Keep contact info for local crisis lines, counsellors, and support groups.

Brother Eric is a member of CIR

You are not alone

Healing for those seeking recovery from addiction and a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church.

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The bare facts

We know what can and needs to be done to help reduce the burden of psychoactive substance use. Therefore, WHO is committed to helping countries develop, organize, monitor, and evaluate treatment and other services.

• The harmful use of alcohol results in 3.3 million deaths each year.
• On average, every person in the world aged 15 years or older drinks 6.2 litres of pure alcohol per year.
• Less than half the population (38.3%) actually drinks alcohol; this means that those who do drink consume, on average, 17 litres of pure alcohol annually.
• At least 15.3 million persons have drug use disorders.
• Injecting drug use is reported in 148 countries, of which 120 report HIV infection among this population.

Substance abuse refers to the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs. One of the key impacts of illicit drug use on society is the negative health consequences experienced by its members. Drug use also puts a heavy financial burden on individuals, families and society.

The evolution of the complex global illicit drug problem is clearly driven by a range of factors. Sociodemographic trends are influential, such as population gender, age, and the rate of urbanization.

Cannabis remains the most widely used illicit substance in the African Region. West and Central Africa report the highest prevalence and the largest increases in use, with rates between 5.2% and 13.5%.

Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) such as “ecstasy” and methamphetamine now rank as Africa’s second most widely abused drug type. Other substances that were used by children and youth surveyed in Sierra Leone included benzodiazepines such as diazepam, chlorpromazine and different inhalants, while 3.7% were injecting drugs.

Injecting drugs carries a high risk of infection with bloodborne viruses such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, and the sharing of contaminated needles and syringes is an important mode of transmission for those viruses.

Source: © 2026 WHO — African Region

https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/substance-abuse