What Are Suicidal Thoughts? What Is Suicidal Ideation?

Main Category: Depression
Also Included In: Mental Health;  Psychology / Psychiatry;  Bipolar
Last Updated: 22 May 2013
Original Date: 26 Jun 2010

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What Are Suicidal Thoughts? What Is Suicidal Ideation?

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Suicidal thoughts, also known as suicidal ideation are thoughts about how to kill oneself, which can range from a detailed plan to a fleeting consideration and does not include the final act of killing oneself. The majority of people who experience suicidal ideation do not carry it through. Some may, however, make suicide attempts. Some suicidal ideations can be deliberately planned to fail or be discovered, while others might be carefully planned to succeed.

According to a Finnish study, over one fifth of people who actually committed suicide had discussed their aim with a doctor or other health care professional during their last session.

USA - according to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), there are about 30,000 completed suicides in America each year, an annual incidence of 0.01%. 80% of suicides are among males. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15 to 24 year olds. Twenty per cent of all suicides are among this age group.

United Kingdom - according to the NHS (National Health Service), during the last 20 years suicide rates in the UK have been steadily dropping. In 2006 there were 5,554 completed suicides among people aged at least 15 years. 140,000 people are hospitalized annually in England and Wales after suicide attempts. Three-quarters of all UK suicides are in males, with the highest risk among those aged 25 to 34 years, followed by 35 to 44 years. After accidental death, suicide is the second most common cause of death in males aged 15 to 44.

The NHS adds that according to its research, nearly all completed suicides are among individuals with a mental illness, for example, depression. Approximately ten to fifteen per cent of patients with bipolar disorder die prematurely due to suicide. About 4% of individuals with schizophrenia die by suicide, usually not long after the onset of symptoms.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Suicidal Thoughts?

A symptom is something the patient senses and describes, while a sign is something other people, such as the doctor notice. For example, drowsiness may be a symptom while dilated pupils may be a sign.

• Appearing to feel trapped or hopeless
• Appearing to have an abnormal preoccupation with violence, dying and/or death
• Being in a heightened state of anxiety
• Being very moody
• Changing personality
• Changing routine
• Changing sleeping patterns
• Consuming (more) drugs
• Consuming more alcohol
• Engaging in risky behavior, such as driving carelessly or taking drugs
• Getting affairs in order
• Getting hold of a gun, medications, or substances that could end a life
• Giving stuff away
• Having depression
• Having panic attacks
• Impaired concentration
• Increased self-criticism
• Isolating oneself
• Psychomotor agitation - such as pacing around a room, wringing one's hands, taking off clothing and putting it back on, and other such actions
• Saying goodbye to others as if it were the last time
• Seeming to be unable to experience pleasurable emotions from normally pleasurable life events such as eating, exercise, social interaction or sex
• Seeming to have severe remorse
• Talking about killing oneself, expressing regret about being alive or ever having been born

A significant number of people with suicidal ideation keep their thoughts and feelings a secret and appear to have no apparent signs.