The Difference Between Suicide and Suicidal Ideation
Dr. William Beecroft, M.D.
| 4 min read
Dr. William Beecroft, MD, DLFAPA, is the Medical Dir...
Key Takeaways
- Suicidal ideation generally involves intrusive, fleeting thoughts of suicide and self-harm and a preoccupation with death.
- Recognizing the difference between passive suicidal ideation and active suicidal ideation can help identify immediate short-term risks.
- Risk factors for suicidal ideation can include biological factors, stressful life events, a person's demographics and substance use disorder.
- Destigmatizing conversations around suicide can allow individuals to seek help, rethink their opinions and share their story with others.
Suicidal ideation is difficult to define because it looks different for every person who experiences it. Generally, suicidal ideation involves intrusive, fleeting thoughts of suicide and self-harm and a preoccupation with death.
Suicidal ideation is considered common, as an estimated 10.6 million adults in the United States reported having suicidal thoughts during the previous year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That’s roughly 4.3% of the adult population.
While it is a serious mental health issue, suicidal ideation does not always mean a person is going to attempt or even want to complete suicide. It should, though, be viewed as a warning sign. Knowing more about risk factors and examples of suicide ideation can help individuals and their loved ones react accordingly to a potential emergency.
What is the difference between active and passive suicidal ideation?
There are two forms of suicidal ideation: active and passive. Differentiating between these forms of suicidal ideation can help identify immediate short-term risks, according to research.
- Passive suicidal ideation occurs when someone has thoughts of death without a clear plan or intent to end their own life.
- Active suicidal ideation is when an individual’s suicidal thoughts turn into suicidal planning. People who experience active suicidal ideation become motivated to create an action plan to commit self-harm. Active suicidal ideation usually requires emergency treatment.
What are the causes, risk factors and examples of suicidal ideation?
Difficulties in life may lead an individual to feel hopeless, worthless and indifferent to living, which could lead to intrusive thoughts of suicide.
Risk factors for suicidal ideation and suicidal thoughts include:
- Biological factors such as brain development and genetics.
- The risk is higher in family members that have experienced a successful suicide of a primary relative.
- Underlying mental health conditions such as:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Substance use
- Overwhelming, stressful and negative life events that are difficult to cope with.
- An individual does not need to have a behavioral health condition to have suicidal ideation or an attempt
- Substance use disorder, which significantly increases risk for suicidal ideation, attempts and death, according to research.
- Demographics, including age, education, employment and socioeconomic status.
- The highest risk is for older males who have recently lost a significant other
Examples of passive ideation can range in severity and intensity. They may include:
- Thinking about falling asleep and never waking up
- Thinking loved ones would be better off without one’s existence
- Thinking about veering offroad and colliding with another object while driving
- Wishing the world would end tomorrow
Since active suicidal ideation is based on intent, examples or warning signs of suicide ideation can include:
- Writing a note
- Giving away valued belongings
- Significant withdrawal from social relationships
- Other signs can include a sense of calm after prolonged periods of severe anxiety or depression
Destigmatizing conversations about suicide
Suicidal ideation is common, so those who experience it shouldn’t feel shame or guilt that causes them to bottle up their feelings and potentially exacerbate them. Those who feel sad, anxious or depressed should not consider suicide discussions with loved ones to be taboo.
Talking about suicide not only reduces the stigma, but also allows individuals to seek help, rethink their opinions and share their story with others.
Establishing a support network of friends, family and other important people who know what’s going on can foster connection, which can help soften feelings of suicide ideation and reduce suicide risk. One may also reach out to a place of worship, support groups or other community resources.
How to get help
Suicidal thoughts are not permanent, and measures can be taken to treat them, so they dissipate. An individual experiencing suicidal ideation can live a long, successful life.
If establishing a support network isn’t enough, forming and engaging in a mental health treatment plan is the next step. It is important to consider pursuing if the issue appears to be escalating. A primary care provider (PCP) may recommend a treatment plan that consists of one or more of the following methods:
- Inpatient or outpatient mental health programs
- Cognitive behavioral therapy or other therapies designed to improve coping mechanisms
- A safety plan that includes coping skills and support if suicidal ideation persists
- Medication
It is crucial to know that suicide attempts can occur for those without a history of mental health disorders, a diagnosable mental health condition or prior expression of suicidal ideation. For urgent, immediate support, click here for a list of crisis resource facilities open in Michigan. To contact 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org.
William Beecroft is the medical director of behavioral health at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. For more health tips and information, visit MIBlueDaily.com.
Related:
- Recognizing Passive Suicidal Ideation in Older Adults
- Potterville Schools Helps Reduce Suicide Risk Among Students
- Suicide is a Leading Cause of Death for Michiganders: Here’s How Everyone Can Spread Awareness
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