Suicidal Thoughts?

What is suicidal ideation?

Suicidal ideation is a term used to describe having suicidal thoughts. This can be an impulsive act or an urge that lasts for several minutes or even longer. It’s important to understand those suicidal thoughts are symptoms related to depression and other mental health issues. If you feel like you’re struggling with these symptoms, make sure you seek help right away, don’t try to manage them on your own. In some cases, suicidal thoughts aren’t linked to actually wanting to die or kill yourself they can indicate a desire for a temporary escape from overwhelming feelings.

Either way, if you are having thoughts of self-harm, you should not ignore them and should seek help from a professional right away.

How to stay safe and find help

Just remember: It’s never too late (or too early) to get help if you’re struggling with suicidal thoughts. There are people who want to listen and support you. Keep an eye out for warning signs

Crisis Text Line – Available 24 Hours

What to do if you’re thinking about killing yourself?

• Do you feel like things would be better if you weren’t around anymore?

• Are you having thoughts about harming yourself or committing suicide? 

If so, seek immediate help. I know I have said this numerous times already, but I really can’t stress it enough. A few minutes could mean the difference between life and death. Call a suicide hotline and tell them what you are feeling and they can talk to you and help assess your situation. It may be a good idea to call even if you don’t want to admit that there is an immediate problem. They may be able to assist with finding resources that can help provide short-term support until you find other long-term solutions for how to cope with things like life stressors, grief and loss, depression, anxiety disorders, and bipolar disorder.

Remember – If you’re having thoughts about killing yourself or harming yourself, it’s important to seek professional help right away.

The five most common signs that someone close to you may be considering ending their life.

It’s tough to notice the warning signs of suicide, especially when the person you’re concerned about might be trying to hide it from you.

If you spot these warning signs in somebody, reach out to them and let them know that they can talk to you about what they’re going through, then encourage them to seek help from somebody trained in this area like a medical professional or counselor.

1) They talk about death

If your friend begins talking about death in a casual or off-hand manner, it could be a sign that they’re thinking about self-harm. When you hear someone casually mention how nice it would be to just not wake up one day, take note. This is especially true if they seem to talk about dying more than usual.

2) They express feeling hopeless

Studies have shown that people who feel hopeless are more likely to end their own lives. And it’s important to remember there is always hope. Even if things don’t seem like they will get better tomorrow or next week, they will eventually.

3) They are abusing drugs and alcohol

From an outsider’s perspective, it might seem like substance abuse is a cause of self-harm, and while drug and alcohol use can play a role in suicidal thoughts, it’s far more likely to act as a coping mechanism rather than a direct trigger. If you notice your loved one using substances more heavily than usual, pay attention, substance abuse can also increase feelings of isolation.

4) They’re isolated from family and friends

If someone is severely depressed, they may start to isolate themselves from loved ones. This can mean spending more time in their room, spending more time in online forums with other people who suffer from depression, simply avoiding family members and friends, or never leaving their homes. It’s important to reach out and check on your loved ones regularly during these times, even if they seem like they’re doing fine.

5) They Have lost interest in activities they once enjoyed

Losing interest in things you once enjoyed can be a sign of depression but isn’t necessarily an indicator of suicidal thoughts, but it can be. It’s best to watch out for extreme changes in mood that can cause some people to feel more depressed or apathetic. Take note if your loved one seems lethargic and sad all of a sudden or feels hopeless about their future or their situation, it is important to take these feelings seriously, and speak up when you notice them.

Do you know someone who may be considering suicide?

What you should know if you are worried about someone – every 40 seconds, someone, somewhere in the world, dies by suicide. For people with severe depression, it is not uncommon to think about suicide.

How to talk to someone in crisis

Many people don’t know what to say to someone who is considering suicide or in a crisis situation, it can be difficult to know how to react. Should you push them to seek help from a mental health professional? Should you call 911 and get them in touch with emergency services? The truth is, getting someone to talk about their suicidal thoughts is usually a positive step, however, if they are currently feeling unable to speak about these thoughts and feelings (e.g., because of high anxiety or depression), it is usually best not to force things.

Encourage them to talk about how they are feeling in their own time and without any pressure and listen, you do not need to fix their problem, often just having somebody they can tell how they are feeling to can in itself help.
If you think they are in immediate danger, you may need to seek emergency intervention as talked about earlier in this post.

The most important thing to remember is that you need to be patient and understanding, suicidal feelings often arise from feeling overwhelmed by negative emotions. People who are suffering from suicidal ideation will still respond positively if they feel like their problems matter. Be kind and make sure they know they have someone they can talk to when they’re ready.

How can you make a difference in suicide prevention?

If You Are Considering Self Harm

If you are thinking about harming or killing yourself and have an immediate plan for how to do so, or how to accomplish it (this may include things like pills, firearms, or other means), call 911 right away.

I do mean right away! Stop reading this and call 911 right now or Go to the closest Emergency Department

Calling 911 provides access to immediate care and can save a life. If someone has taken an overdose or ingested substances, calling 911 can prevent serious health risks such as cardiac arrest. While waiting for emergency services, try to keep calm and talk openly with those around you or the emergency dispatch operator so they can also be aware of what is going on.

Asking for help Saves Lives

Thoughts of self-harm could include:

• Thoughts of killing yourself 

• Thoughts of committing suicide?

What causes someone to commit suicide?

Depression is the most common cause, mental illnesses can also contribute to suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. Adverse childhood experiences, witnessing domestic violence, losses due to death or divorce, substance use problems, personality disorders, or other mental health problems can all increase the risk of suicide.

Warning Signs of Suicide.

Talking about killing themselves, feeling hopeless, having no reason for living (they might say they are just killing time), being preoccupied with death, making preparations for a funeral, suddenly adopting radical changes in appearance – like putting on makeup, getting haircuts, buying clothes you don’t usually wear.

If these feelings don’t pass or worsen, it could be time to reach out for support which could save someone’s life!

Suicide should never be an option. If you’re going through something that’s impacting your mental state, know that you’re not alone, there are people who care. Suicides are preventable. It is okay to talk about suicide. Anxiety is often reduced when talking about feelings related to suicidal thoughts and feelings of hopelessness. This can provide opportunities for connection and reassurance that it really will get better eventually. Asking about suicide does not provoke the act of suicide. It often reduces anxiety and helps people feel understood.

How To Prevent and Survive Suicidal Ideation

As we discussed earlier there are several warning signs that you can look out for. These include but are not limited to feeling hopeless about a situation, feeling like there is no solution to a problem, being very anxious and unable to relax, and thinking constantly about death and dying.

Prevention & Survival Tips

It’s not your fault if you are having thoughts of self-harm, killing yourself, or committing suicide. In fact, it is normal to have these feelings sometimes in life.

It is okay to feel suicidal and talk about how you are feeling with someone. If you are not in a good place then it may be difficult for you to figure out what to do next. Reaching out and asking for help takes courage but can make the difference between life and death, there is help and resources available including support groups and online communities, warm lines and suicide prevention services, and crisis centers to name just a few of the resources available.

What should I do if someone I know is talking about suicide?

If someone that you know is feeling suicidal or having suicidal thoughts, it is important to take it seriously. Try and be there for them as best as you can, listen to their concerns, and do not interrupt them when they are trying to express how they are feeling. You do not have to solve their problems. Let them know that you care and will be there for them however you can and ask what you could do that might help. Ask them if they are considering harming themselves.

This is important to establish. If they are thinking of harming themselves they should seek professional help. If they are considering suicide it is important to ask if they have a plan, if this is the case, the situation could be a life or death situation and you should encourage them to call 911, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline or go to the nearest Emergency Department.

Myths about suicide

Myth #1: Talking about suicide is a cry for help.

Fact: Most people who talk about killing themselves are not actually thinking about doing it, they’re using suicide as a way to get help with a personal problem. If you believe someone is suicidal, don’t leave him or her alone and ask them directly if have considered suicide.

Myth #2: Suicide only affects older people.

People of any age, race, ethnicity, or sex can experience suicide risk, but certain groups have substantially higher rates of suicide than the general U.S. population. Groups identified at higher risk include:

These groups may disproportionately experience factors linked to suicide, such as substance misuse, job or financial problems, relationship problems, physical or mental health problems, and/or easy access to lethal means.

Additionally, people who have experienced violence, including adverse childhood experiences (such as physical abuse), bullying, or sexual violence, have a higher suicide risk.

Middle-aged adults (aged 35–64 years) account for 47.2% of all suicides in the United States, and suicide is the 9th leading cause of death for this age group.

• Adults aged 75 and older account for fewer than 10%

Some other notable statistics of suicide rates include:

• Youth and young adults ages 10–24 years account for 14% of all suicides.

• Almost a quarter (23.4%) of high school students identifying as lesbian, gay, or bisexual reported attempting suicide in the prior 12 months, four times higher than the rate reported among heterosexual students (6.4%).

• Veterans have an adjusted suicide rate that is 52.3% greater than the non-veteran US adult population.

• People who have previously served in the military account for about 13.7% of suicides among adults in the United States.

• Suicide ideation is higher among people with disabilities (Source CDC.gov)
• Click here to see full statistics on the CDC website)

Myth #3: People who talk about suicide won’t do it.

This myth stems from confusion between two groups—those at low risk for attempting suicide and those at high risk. People with certain mental illnesses, like depression, are much more likely to harm themselves than people without these illnesses.

What risk factors could lead someone to consider suicide?

Many people don’t realize just how many factors can contribute to a person considering suicide. These factors could be genetic predispositions, environmental influences such as bullying and loss of a job, mental illness including clinical depression and bipolar disorder, physical health problems such as cancer, and painful conditions like neuropathy. These are only some examples; there are many more. It is important to remember that these risk factors do not mean someone will consider suicide, they simply increase their risk of doing so.

If you or someone you know has any of these risk factors and is considering suicide it is critical that they seek help immediately.

Key facts

• More than 700 000 people die due to suicide every year.

• For every suicide, there are many more people who attempt suicide. A prior suicide attempt is the single most important risk factor for suicide in the general population.

• Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-19 year-olds.

• 77% of global suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries.

• Ingestion of pesticides, hanging, and firearms are among the most common methods of suicide globally.

Being Suicidal – What It Feels Like to Want to Kill Yourself

What does it feel like to want to kill yourself? The honest answer is you probably won’t know until you’re in that dark place yourself. That said, there are signs that a person may be suicidal, including drastic changes in behavior such as not caring about grooming or eating properly. Others might have feelings of hopelessness and helplessness—that they are at rock bottom and nothing will ever get better. They also might feel worthless or guilty over mistakes they made in their past. Another sign someone could be suicidal is if he or she begins making comments indicating thoughts of death or suicide or making final arrangements, giving things away, and putting their affairs in order.

Suicide Prevention and Research

Current suicide research has shown that many suicides could be prevented if mental health and substance abuse treatment is readily available to everyone. For example, roughly 90% of people who die by suicide have an underlying mental illness at the time of death and a primary care physician can greatly reduce suicidal thinking through proper diagnosis and treatment.

Research shows that effective interventions can also be carried out via community health care providers who are responsible for getting high-risk patients screened for depression and referred for psychiatric treatment when needed.

Depression and Suicide

Depression is a serious mental illness that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Not only does depression make it hard to go about your daily activities, but it can also get in the way of your personal relationships, work performance, and overall health. It’s estimated that as many as 15 percent of people who have depression will at some point attempt suicide. About 30 percent will eventually complete suicide, meaning they intentionally put an end to their life.

Preventing suicide at work: information for employers, managers, and employees

World Health Organization – Youtube Video

Being at work can be good for mental health. But the increasing pressures at work can be stressful. A difficult work environment or ongoing work-related stressors can worsen the mental health of employees. In some circumstances, they may take their own lives. But suicide is never the answer. There is always hope.

Employers and managers have an important role to play in looking out for the mental health of their staff.

More information:
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/preventing-suicide-a-resource-series

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