As we navigate life and our mental health, concerns about suicidal thoughts may arise. It’s crucial to recognize and understand these thought patterns. But what exactly is suicidal ideation? What causes it, how do we identify it in ourselves and others, and what steps should we take to address it?
What Is Suicidal Ideation?
Suicidal ideation involves thinking about, considering, or making plans to commit suicide. There are two types of suicidal thoughts:
- Passive suicidal ideation is thinking about or wishing you were dead without making any specific plans or actions.
- Active suicidal ideation involves planning to die by suicide.
The National Center for Health Statistics shares that 15.6% of people in the US will consider suicide at some point in their lives
The National Center for Health Statistics shares that 15.6% of people in the US will consider suicide at some point in their lives.
We usually know if we’re dealing with our own thoughts of depression, loss of hope, or active suicidal ideation, but we can’t know the thoughts of others. So how do you know if a loved one is having suicidal thoughts? Some signs of suicidal ideation in others include the following:
- Increased drug or alcohol use
- Reckless behavior
- Talking about suicide, death, or violence
- Saying goodbye in a way that seems formal or final
- Getting affairs in order, giving away belongings, etc.
- Mood swings or personality changes, including a sudden increase in positivity
- Withdrawing socially and self-isolating
What Causes Suicidal Ideation?
When looking at what causes suicidal thoughts or ideation, you start with mental health and life experiences. A history of mental illness can indicate a need for greater concern about suicidal ideation. In fact, StatPearls shares that 90% of people who die by suicide have a psychiatric illness, with the most common being a mood disorder such as depression or bipolar disorder. Struggling with abuse, trauma, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also increases the likelihood of suicidal ideation or attempts. Other risk factors include the following:
- Chronic pain or a terminal illness
- Brain injury
- Drug or alcohol use disorder or addiction
- A family history of suicide
- Military service
Even events like being a victim of an online scam or sextortion scheme can put you at risk. In 2022 alone, more than a dozen sextortion victims died by suicide, according to the US Department of Justice.
What Are the Suicide Rates in the US?
When you consider the causes of suicidal thoughts and their connection to mental health, you begin to realize why suicide is so prevalent in our society. The National Institute of Mental Health shares that suicide is the 11th most common cause of death in the United States. As of 2021, there were 14 suicide deaths per 100,000 people, a number that has climbed steadily over the past 20 years, considering there were 10.4 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000.
Suicide rates in the US aren’t distributed evenly among the population. The following are some ways in which demographics influence statistics:
- Suicide is a more common cause of death among younger demographics, being the second most common cause of death among individuals aged 10-14 and 25-34.
- The suicide rate is four times higher among men than among women.
- The National Center for Health Statistics reveals that suicide is more common among rural populations that urban ones.
- The Trevor Project explains that LGBTQ+ young people are four times more likely to attempt suicide compared to their peers, and more than 1.8 million LGBTQ+ young people engage in serious suicidal ideation.
- Race and other minority statuses have experienced an increasing rate of suicidal thoughts. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this is most evident among American Indian and Alaska Native populations, where the suicide rate is 28.1 per 100,000 people, twice that of the general population.
Therefore, what causes suicidal thoughts is not just your specific, individual mental health and life experiences. It’s actually influenced by many factors, including age, race, gender, and even where you live. If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, this isn’t a “failure” on your part. Rather, it’s a complex interaction between your brain chemistry and the world around you — and it’s more common than you might think.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, this isn’t a “failure” on your part. Rather, it’s a complex interaction between your brain chemistry and the world around you — and it’s more common than you might think.
How to Help Someone With Suicidal Thoughts
If you have immediate concerns about the health and safety of yourself or a loved one, please contact emergency services through 911 or the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If you or someone you care about is struggling with suicidal ideation, there is no need to feel embarrassed or ashamed. You are not alone. You are understood. Speak up before you become part of the statistics. Remember, thoughts don’t have to lead to actions; help and hope are available.
By reaching out to professional therapists, you can learn more about mental health and how it may be impacting your thoughts and feelings. With the right help, you can build resilience, overcome trauma, and move past life’s stumbling blocks. When you get treatment for underlying and co-occurring mental health and addiction concerns, you get a new outlook on life. You gain hope, direction, and opportunity. You can find social connection, community, and joy in both the big and small moments of life.
At The Meadows Seasons, we understand your need for culturally competent, compassionate, accepting, and effective care. Our programs provide acute stabilization and highly individualized treatment. Whether it’s you or a loved one experiencing suicidal ideation, you can have access to the right help, support, and tools needed to achieve lasting healing. Reach out to us today to get started.
