Suicide is the act of taking your own life and is a tragic reaction to stressful life situations. Someone who feels that there is no other way to solve their problems may be experiencing suicidal ideation, also referred to as suicidal thoughts. Suicidal ideation is the presence of active thoughts about killing oneself, these thoughts may include a detailed plan or may just be a fleeting consideration. Additionally, suicidal ideation may be deliberately assembled to be unsuccessful or may be intended to result in death. Although not everyone having suicidal ideations acts on these suicidal thoughts, some individuals may make suicide attempts and so this topic needs to be taken seriously.
Suicidal thoughts and behaviors are complex since a number of factors can change the way the feelings are experienced, the types of thoughts that develop, and the way in which they may be presented. For someone suffering with suicidal thoughts they may feel as if no one can understand the agony they are experiencing inside. Many individuals with suicidal thoughts and behaviors are reluctant to disclose their thoughts and feelings to others for fear of being rejected, judged as weak, or flawed in some way.
If you are feeling as though suicide is the only answer to your problems, this is a medical emergency. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. There is help available. You are not alone.
Statistics
The highest prevalence rates and faster rate of growth for suicide are seen in the middle age group. Prevalence rates are 27.3 per 100,000 in middle age men and 8.1 per 100,000 in middle age women.
Co-Occurring Disorders
A number of different disorders are known to co-occur with suicidal thoughts and behavior. These include:
- Mood disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- ADHD
- Alcoholism
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Substance use disorders
- Disruptive disorders
- Conduct disorders
- Borderline personality disorder
- Personality disorders
Causes
While there is not one root cause for suicidal behavior and thoughts, it’s generally believed to be a combination of factors:
Genetic: Major depressive disorder and other mental illnesses tend to run in families and these disorders do increase the risks for both development of the disorder and suicide.
Biological: It’s thought that mental illnesses may be related to changes in the structure and function of the brain. If a mental illness is strongly correlated with suicide, this may be a risk factor for suicide.
Environmental: When individuals do not learn proper coping techniques or feel as though they can get better, they may turn to suicide as a means to solve a temporary problem.
Psychological: Many mental illnesses have high correlations with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. For those suffering mental illness and/or addiction, they may experience higher than normal thoughts of suicide and suicidal behaviors.
Signs and Symptoms of Suicidal Thoughts
Many times individuals who are seriously considering suicide present with a number of warning signs that shows they are in crisis and need immediate help. Signs to look for include:
Mood:
- Depressed
- Anxious
- Withdrawn
- Sudden change from depressive behavior to a calm, or neutral demeanor
- Mood swings
Behavioral:
- Noticeable personality changes – suddenly becoming quiet or withdrawing social interactions
- Rebellious behaviors
- Violent behaviors
- Seeming preoccupied with violence or death
- Saying goodbye to others
- Expressing the desire to be “left alone”
- Giving away belongings
- Talking about suicide using statements such as “I’m going to kill myself,” or “I wish I were dead”
- Eating or sleeping more or less
- Changes in normal routines
- Withdrawing from family, friends and other social relationships
- Collecting potential items that could be used to commit suicide
- Getting legal affairs in order
- Self-destructive behavior
- Reckless behavior
- Loss of interest in things once cared about
- Showing rage or talking about revenge
- Giving away prized possessions
- Creating a plan for suicide
Physical:
- Changes in normal routine
- Complaints about physical symptoms such as exhaustion, headaches, stomachaches
Psychological:
- Beginning or increasing drug and alcohol abuse
- Expressing a sense of feeling trapped by life circumstances
- Feeling as if life will never improve
- Feeling like a burden to others
- Self-loathing; self-hatred
- Boredom, difficulty concentrating, decline in cognitive function
Effects of Suicide Attempts
Suicide attempts can result in a variety of physical effects. The effects experienced depend on the method used. These can include:
- Total organ failure
- Specific organ failure
- Brain damage
- Paralysis
- Coma
- Death
Effects on Suicide Survivors
Suicide survivors are the people that are left behind following a successful suicide attempt. Suicide survivors can also experience effects as a result of their loved ones death. These effects include:
- Anger
- Pain
- Shame
- Prolonged, delayed grief
- Shock
- Depression
- Guilt
- Denial
- Helplessness
- Abandonment
- Hopelessness
- Self-blame
- Confusion
- Anxiety
- Feeling alone
- Facing social stigma of suicide