What suicidal ideation is, who are most affected, and what you can do to help
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in the United States in 2019. But with the sudden lockdowns because of the coronavirus pandemic and resulting feelings of isolation, researchers have shown that there’s also an increase in people having suicidal thoughts.
In this article, The Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Health (CCBH), an advocate for emotional and mental well-being in Westport, aims to shed light on what suicidal ideation is, who are most affected, and what you can do to help.
In this article, The Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Health (CCBH), an advocate for emotional and mental well-being in Westport, aims to shed light on what suicidal ideation is, who are most affected, and what you can do to help.
What is suicidal ideation?
Suicidal ideation refers to the thoughts people have of killing themselves.
These suicidal thoughts may include ideas of harming themselves or the general idea of wanting to die.
They’re called ideations because not everyone who has them acts on them. However, that doesn’t mean they should just be ignored.
More than just thoughts, suicidal ideation also broadly covers suicidal behaviors:
● Suicidal threat – At this point, the sufferer tells other people about their suicidal thoughts
● Suicide attempt – The sufferer pushes through with their plans to kill themselves but does not result in their death
● Non-suicidal self-injury – Causing intentional and direct injuries to themselves that may or may not be intended to cause death
Suicidal ideation scale
Suicidal ideation scales are tools healthcare professionals use to assess how likely someone is to hurt themselves. These assessments can offer early intervention and treatment for affected individuals.
Some of these assessments include Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation, Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale, Suicide Assessment Five-Step Evaluation and Triage, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9.
They may use one or more of these scales to identify the severity of someone’s suicidal thoughts.
Types of suicidal ideation
● Active ideation – They constantly think about dying and have plans to commit suicide.
● Passive ideation – They constantly think about death and dying but do not have plans to commit suicide.
Who are the most affected?
The people more likely to be at risk of having suicidal thoughts are those who suffer from:
● Mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder
● A recent loss or tragedy
● High stress levels
● Past trauma
● Chronic pain
Those who have a family history of suicide and dabble in the use of illegal drugs are also likely to think about suicide and death often.
Signs to watch out for
It may not always be easy to spot, but people who are prone to think about suicide say they feel no emotion or they’re hopeless.
They feel like they’re trapped in a situation, and death is the only escape.
They might also feel guilty or ashamed of these feelings, claiming that they are nothing but a burden to friends and family.
They might also show signs of extreme distress or act aggressively.
You might also want to note if they’re behaving recklessly or impulsively when they’re normally rational.
If the suicidal ideation is severe, they might even go as far as to buy weapons or get their affairs in order by making a will or getting rid of items with sentimental value.
What can be done to combat it?
If you’re concerned that someone you care for might be at risk of suicidal ideation, the first thing to be done is to ask them outright if they have thoughts of harming or killing themselves. Doing so will not make them about suicide, say mental health experts.
You’ll also want to remain supportive by talking to them and checking in regularly.
You could also provide them with important lifelines like National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Seek the Help of Professionals
Perhaps the single most important thing you can do for your loved one is to seek the help of mental health professionals.
They’re in the best position to help your friend or family member get through the dark times.
The Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Health (CCBH) has been helping children, adolescents, and adults begin their healing since 2015.
We understand how difficult it can be to watch a loved one struggle mentally and emotionally.
We aim to provide a thorough and effective treatment plan through cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
Request an appointment today to get a treatment plan for suicidal ideation.