Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow Common Is It?Signs and Symptoms of Suicidal IdeationWhat Causes It?DiagnosisHow to Cope If You’re Experiencing Suicidal ThoughtsAdditional Treatment Options
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How Common Is It?
Signs and Symptoms of Suicidal Ideation
What Causes It?
Diagnosis
How to Cope If You’re Experiencing Suicidal Thoughts
Additional Treatment Options
Close
Information presented in this article may be triggering to some people. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Information presented in this article may be triggering to some people. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Strictly speaking, suicidal ideation refers to thoughts (ideating) of suicide or taking your own life. However, there are two kinds of suicidal ideation: passive and active.
“There’s an urgent need to address suicide from young to old populations. According to the CDC, in 2021, at least 20% of high school students seriously considered attempting suicide,” saysHilary Blumberg, MD, the John and Hope Furth Professor of Psychiatric Neuroscience and Professor of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine.
Suicidal ideation is one of the symptoms of both major depression and the depression found in bipolar disorder, but it may also occur in people with other mental illnesses or no mental illness at all.
When You Don’t Want to Live—But You Don’t Want to Die
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The lifetime prevalence of suicidal ideation for the general world population is about 9% and about 2% within a 12-month period.
For people with mental health disorders, the rate is significantly higher. The exact numbers are unclear, but since suicidal ideation is a symptom of mental health disorders like major depression and bipolar disorder, the problem exists at a far greater percentage in these populations.
Suicide is on the rise, with half of the states in the United States reporting more than a 30% increase since 1999 and nearly all the rest reporting increased rates since then, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and the second leading cause of death among 10- to 34-year-olds. Women attempt suicide more often than men, but men are successful about three to four times more often than women.
Rates and Statistics for Suicide in the U.S.
Warning signs that you or a loved one are thinking about or contemplating suicide include:
If you think a loved one is thinking about or planning suicide, ask. It’s a myth that you’ll give another person the idea to kill themselves. Asking shows that you’re concerned and that you care about the person.
It’s also important to note that suicidal thoughts fluctuate. They are known to “wax and wane,” which means that thoughts may be specific, intense, and persistent one day, and the next, they may be more vague and occur less frequently.
However, it’s always important to take thoughts about suicide seriously and seek help—even if they seem like they’ve improved.
If your loved one admits that they are thinking about suicide, do your best to make sure they are safe.
Be there for them if and when they need you. If the situation is serious, you may need to involve your loved one’s doctor or mental health professional or perhaps call a suicide hotline foradvice or help. Keep checking on them until you feel certain that they’re in a safe state of mind again.
Why Do People Die By Suicide?
Many different factors can contribute to suicidal ideation. Often these thoughts strike when you’refeeling hopelessand out of control in your life and/or like it hasno meaning or purpose.
These feelings may be due to circumstances like relationship problems, trauma, substance use, a crisis of some sort, pressure at work, a physical health issue, or financial difficulties. Having any mental health disorder such as depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or anxiety can also contribute.
There are a variety of risk factors for suicidal ideation and suicide, including
Press Play to Learn More About Suicide & Suicidal Ideation
If you’re experiencing symptoms of depression and are having suicidal thoughts, your doctor will likely give you a medical exam and ask you to respond to a questionnaire that may include the following questions:
They often assess factors such as how a person views themselves, and whether they have feelings of helplessness or a negative outlook on life.
Examples of a suicidal ideation scale include:
What to Say to Someone Who Is Suicidal
Here are some ways to help reduce suicidal thoughts and get the help you need to get back on track, whether you or a loved one are experiencing suicidal ideation:
Identify Triggers
Look fortriggersor circumstances that lead to feelings of despair such as a death or a loss, alcohol use, or stress from relationships. Eliminate what you can and talk to someone, such as a counselor or close friend, about the others.
Remember Feelings Are Temporary
Feelings come and go and are not permanent. Even when life seems hopeless, you can get on the road to feeling better with treatment. You’ll learn how to cope with life stresses, as well as to get a new perspective.
Sometimes even just taking a nap or going to bed when you’re feeling especially low can reset your mood, at least enough to stop the suicidal thoughts.
Take Care of Yourself
In addition to eatinghealthy mealsregularly and never skipping meals, get plenty of rest and relaxation to stave off stress and help your body recuperate from days past. Exercise is also important forrelieving stressand improving your emotional well-being.
Build a Community of Support
Make the time to be aroundpeople with positive influenceson your life and those who make you feel good about yourself. Also, don’t forget to give back to your community either through money or your time. Helping others and giving back can be a great way to get out of your own head and find meaning.
Get Active
Just as old habits have to die to let go of suicidal ideation, new ideas must take their place to stick. Develop your personal and professional interests. Find fun things to do, volunteer activities, or work that gives you a sense of purpose.
When you’re doing things you find fulfilling, you’ll feel better about yourself and those feelings of despair are less likely to return.
Relax
Find personal ways to relieve stress levels. In addition to exercising, you canmeditate, use sensory strategies to relax, practicesimple breathing exercises, and challenge self-defeating thoughts to help you overcome suicidal thoughts.
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If you have suicidal thoughts but there is no crisis, your doctor or therapist may recommend psychotherapy, medications, and lifestyle changes that can help reduce the risk of suicide.
Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, during which you work with a therapist to explore why you’re feeling suicidal and how to cope.
Family therapy and education. Involving loved ones in treatment can help them better understand what you’re going through, learn the warning signs, and improve family dynamics.
Substance use disorder treatment:if you are also experiencing an increase in alcohol or drug use.
Lifestyle changes:Including managing stress, improving sleep, eating, and exercise habits, building a solidsupport network, and making time for hobbies and interests.
Medications totreat any underlying depressioncausing your suicidal ideation. This may includeantidepressants,antipsychotic medications, or anti-anxiety medications.
“The future is hopeful. Recent research has identified biological differences, such as brain differences, that may underlie suicide risk so that better methods for detection and treatments that can reduce risk are being generated and tested. Psychosocial factors, such as stressors, also have very important roles and are also critical to address,” says Blumberg.
WarningIf you start experiencing thoughts of suicide after taking an antidepressant, call your mental health care professional immediately. Antidepressants have been linked to an increase in suicidal thoughts.
Warning
If you start experiencing thoughts of suicide after taking an antidepressant, call your mental health care professional immediately. Antidepressants have been linked to an increase in suicidal thoughts.
Keep in Mind
Though it may be difficult, studies show that if you’re able to talk to someone regularly, particularly in a face-to-face situation like to a close friend or counselor, you’re less likely to attempt suicide.
You can also talk to your doctor or go directly to the emergency room if you are having suicidal thoughts. Doctors will evaluate your immediate risk and mayrecommend hospitalizationif the risk is severe or refer you to a mental health professional for treatment.
Tips for Coping with Depression and Suicidal Thoughts
11 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nock MK, Borges G, Bromet EJ, et al.Cross-national prevalence and risk factors for suicidal ideation, plans and attempts.Br J Psychiatry. 2008;192(2):98-105. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.107.040113Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Releases. 2017.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Suicide Rising Across the U.S.National Institute of Mental Health.Suicide.Simon RI.Passive suicidal ideation: Still a high-risk clinical scenario.Current Psychiatry. 2014;13(3):13-15.De Beurs D, Fried EI, Wetherall K, et al.Exploring the psychology of suicidal ideation: A theory driven network analysis.Behaviour Research and Therapy.2019;120:103419. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2019.103419National Alliance on Mental Illness.Learning More About Suicidal Ideation. 2017.National Institute of Mental Health.Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) toolkit.Kliem S, Lohmann A, Mößle T, et al.German Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSS): psychometric properties from a representative population survey.BMC Psychiatry.2017;17:389. doi:10.1186/s12888-017-1559-9Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS).Cull JG, Gill WS.Suicide Probability Scale.PsycTESTS Dataset.1982. doi:10.1037/t01198-000Additional ReadingSchreiber J, Culpepper L.Suicidal ideation and behavior in adults. UpToDate.com.
11 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nock MK, Borges G, Bromet EJ, et al.Cross-national prevalence and risk factors for suicidal ideation, plans and attempts.Br J Psychiatry. 2008;192(2):98-105. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.107.040113Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Releases. 2017.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Suicide Rising Across the U.S.National Institute of Mental Health.Suicide.Simon RI.Passive suicidal ideation: Still a high-risk clinical scenario.Current Psychiatry. 2014;13(3):13-15.De Beurs D, Fried EI, Wetherall K, et al.Exploring the psychology of suicidal ideation: A theory driven network analysis.Behaviour Research and Therapy.2019;120:103419. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2019.103419National Alliance on Mental Illness.Learning More About Suicidal Ideation. 2017.National Institute of Mental Health.Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) toolkit.Kliem S, Lohmann A, Mößle T, et al.German Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSS): psychometric properties from a representative population survey.BMC Psychiatry.2017;17:389. doi:10.1186/s12888-017-1559-9Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS).Cull JG, Gill WS.Suicide Probability Scale.PsycTESTS Dataset.1982. doi:10.1037/t01198-000Additional ReadingSchreiber J, Culpepper L.Suicidal ideation and behavior in adults. UpToDate.com.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Nock MK, Borges G, Bromet EJ, et al.Cross-national prevalence and risk factors for suicidal ideation, plans and attempts.Br J Psychiatry. 2008;192(2):98-105. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.107.040113Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Releases. 2017.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Suicide Rising Across the U.S.National Institute of Mental Health.Suicide.Simon RI.Passive suicidal ideation: Still a high-risk clinical scenario.Current Psychiatry. 2014;13(3):13-15.De Beurs D, Fried EI, Wetherall K, et al.Exploring the psychology of suicidal ideation: A theory driven network analysis.Behaviour Research and Therapy.2019;120:103419. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2019.103419National Alliance on Mental Illness.Learning More About Suicidal Ideation. 2017.National Institute of Mental Health.Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) toolkit.Kliem S, Lohmann A, Mößle T, et al.German Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSS): psychometric properties from a representative population survey.BMC Psychiatry.2017;17:389. doi:10.1186/s12888-017-1559-9Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS).Cull JG, Gill WS.Suicide Probability Scale.PsycTESTS Dataset.1982. doi:10.1037/t01198-000
Nock MK, Borges G, Bromet EJ, et al.Cross-national prevalence and risk factors for suicidal ideation, plans and attempts.Br J Psychiatry. 2008;192(2):98-105. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.107.040113
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Releases. 2017.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Suicide Rising Across the U.S.
National Institute of Mental Health.Suicide.
Simon RI.Passive suicidal ideation: Still a high-risk clinical scenario.Current Psychiatry. 2014;13(3):13-15.
De Beurs D, Fried EI, Wetherall K, et al.Exploring the psychology of suicidal ideation: A theory driven network analysis.Behaviour Research and Therapy.2019;120:103419. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2019.103419
National Alliance on Mental Illness.Learning More About Suicidal Ideation. 2017.
National Institute of Mental Health.Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) toolkit.
Kliem S, Lohmann A, Mößle T, et al.German Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSS): psychometric properties from a representative population survey.BMC Psychiatry.2017;17:389. doi:10.1186/s12888-017-1559-9
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS).
Cull JG, Gill WS.Suicide Probability Scale.PsycTESTS Dataset.1982. doi:10.1037/t01198-000
Schreiber J, Culpepper L.Suicidal ideation and behavior in adults. UpToDate.com.
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