Suicidal ideation is the thought of killing oneself without actually making plans or going through with the act of suicide. Thoughts about killing oneself, harming oneself or ending one’s life can happen with many different types of people for various different reasons.
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 90 percent of people who commit suicide have a mental disorder at the time of their deaths. There are a number of factors that increase the likelihood of a person taking his or her own life with depression and mood disorders being highest on the list and substance abuse being a close second. (CDC 2014)
Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, one American will commit suicide every 12.95 minutes. Certain areas of the country have higher prevalence of suicide than others. The highest rate of suicide in the United States is in the Rocky Mountain/Western regions. Men are more likely to commit suicide and women are more likely to attempt suicide. (AFSP 2015)
Symptoms of suicidal ideation
- Constantly talking about and/or thinking about death
- Clinical depression
- Having a death wish and tempting fate by taking risks that could lead to death
- Talking about being hopeless or worthless
- Abrupt change in mood from sadness to calm
- Visiting people or calling people to say goodbye
Causes of suicidal ideation
Evidence shows correlations between suicidal ideation and trauma experienced in childhood, witnessing a person’s suicide as well as being a Vietnam Veteran. Military sexual trauma (MST) also increases the risk for suicidal ideation and intentional self-harm. These are all also risk factors for developing post-traumatic stress disorder. (USDVA 2014)
In 2007, alcohol was a factor in one-third of the reported suicides with 62 percent of the deceased having a blood alcohol content of .08 at the time of death. Prescription drugs such as opioids, benzodiazepines and antidepressants were the leading type of pills used in suicide deaths from 2005 to 2007. Over the counter drugs like acetaminophen were the second leading substance type used in suicides and represented 10 percent of suicides due to substance overdose. (CDC 2014)
Substance abuse and diet will greatly affect how neurotransmitters in a person’s brain determine one’s ability to remain positive and keep a healthy outlook on life. Alcohol and other depressants are not only extremely dangerous, but when a person who already has low levels of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine takes any substance, it throws off the balance of the brain’s natural ability to produce these neurotransmitters that naturally create feelings of happiness and contentment.
Diagnosis of suicidal behavior according to the Diagnostic Statistic Manual (DSM-V)
- Within the last 24 months, the individual has made a suicide attempt
- The individual who initiated a suicide attempt expected that the set of actions would lead to his or her own death
- The act does not meet criteria for nonsuicidal self-injury – that is, it doesn’t involve self-injury directed to the surface of the body undertaken to induce relief from a negative feeling/cognitive state or to achieve a positive mood state
- The diagnosis is not applied to suicidal ideation or to preparatory acts
- The act was not initiated during a state of delirium or confusion
- The act was not undertaken solely for a political or religious objective
Risk factors of suicidal ideation
- Anorexia nervosa
- Bipolar disorder
- Borderline personality disorder
- Dissociative identity disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
- Substance abuse
- More than one suicide attempt
- Family history of mental disorder or substance abuse
- Family history of suicide
- Incarceration
- Family violence
- Increased self-criticism
- Panic attacks
- Severe remorse
- Inability to experience pleasure
- Chronic physical illness
Treatment
Treatment for major depression through pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments can greatly increase the chances of a person’s recovery from suicidal ideation. There are about 22 different medications that are currently approved by the FDA to treat chronic depression. Side-effects will vary on the person taking the medication and it’s often the case that one must try to be patient in finding the most effective medication. With the help of a psychiatrist and a professional therapist, a person who is suffering from chronic depression or any other mental health disorder, and experiencing suicidal ideation, will find relief in treatment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy are very effective for people seeking treatment for suicidal ideation, chronic depression or any other mental health disorder.
Sovereign Mental Health offers state-of-the-art treatment for a variety of mental health disorders. We use a combination of individual and group psychotherapeutic modalities specifically tailored to each patient. We also utilize alternative therapies such as yoga, meditation, mindfulness techniques and equine therapy.
If you or a loved one would like more information about how to obtain treatment for suicidal ideation, you can call (866) 954-0529 .
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