Suicide

Suicidal ideation is a common medical term for thoughts about suicide. Thoughts may be
fleeting in nature, or they may persist and resolve into a formulated plan. Many people who
experience suicidal thoughts do not die by suicide, although they may exhibit suicidal
behavior or make suicide attempts. People who find themselves experiencing suicidal
thoughts or behaviors may find that they do so as a result of conditions such as depression,
hopelessness,severe anxiety, insomnia, or panic attacks. Not all people who are diagnosed wit
h these or other medical or mental health conditions will experience suicidal ideation, but
some may. All suicidal ideation and behavior should be taken seriously, and those who have
suicidalthoughts or know someone who is experiencing suicidal ideation should contact a cris
is line as soon as possible.

Assessing Suicide Risk and Behavior

A person might have persistent thoughts of suicide and never attempt suicide, but a person
might also attempt suicide after only briefly experiencing suicidal ideation. Thus, it is
important that all threats of suicide and suicidal behavior be taken seriously. Get help
immediately if you or someone you know does any of the following:

 Threatens to hurt or kill oneself.

 Attempts to access the means to kill oneself (weapons, medications, etc.)

 Talks or writes about one’s own death.

 Exhibits revenge-seeking behavior.

 Talks about feeling trapped in an unhappy situation and not seeing any way out.

 Feels no reason to live or has no purpose in life.

 Withdraws from friends, school, work, family, and all other important relationships.

 Engages in risky behavior without caution.

Causes of Suicidal Ideation and Behavior

A person may have thoughts of suicide for no discernable reason, but often suicidal ideation
may occur as a symptom or result of a mental health condition or after one experiences a
challenging life event, such as a failed or failing relationship(s); grief; medical illness;
rejection; sexual abuse, emotional abuse, or physical abuse; or unemployment. The risk of
suicidal thoughts or behavior might also be increased by one’s family or personal history. A
family history of parasuicide (self-harm, attempts, or gestures with no intent to die) or a
personal history of previous suicide attempts, for example, may increase one’s risk for
suicidal ideation. Suicidal ideation and behavior can also occur as a side effect of various
psychotropic medications. People diagnosed with schizophrenia have a higher rate of suicidal
ideation during periods of remission, and those diagnosed with serious medical illnesses such
as AIDS or cancer are more likely to experience suicidal ideation if they also have a
psychiatric condition. Suicidal ideation and behavior have been found to be most prevalent in
people who are coping
with mood issues such as bipolar while also dealing with substance or alcohol abuse.
Psychological issues that might lead one to experience thoughts of suicide include, but are
not limited to:

 Eating and food issues

 Bipolar

 Body image issues

 Dissociation

 Depression

 Panic

 Posttraumatic stress/trauma

 Schizophrenia

 Social anxiety

Suicide is one of the major risks for borderline patients observed in these and other studies
(Zittel & Westen, 1998). In general, BPD patients have a high rate of suicide completion.

Suicide Prevention

Various suicide prevention strategies have been suggested by mental-health professionals:

 Promoting mental resilience through optimism and connectedness.

 Education about suicide, including risk factors, warning signs, and the availability of help.
 Increasing the proficiency of health and welfare services in responding to people in need.
This includes better training for health professionals and employing crisiscounseling
organizations.

 Reducing domestic violence, substance abuse, and divorce are long-term strategies to
reduce many mental health problems.

 Reducing access to convenient means of suicide (e.g., toxic substances, handguns,

ropes/shoelaces).

 Reducing the quantity of dosages supplied in packages of non-prescription medicines

e.g., aspirin.

 Interventions targeted at high-risk groups