Preventing Suicidal Thoughts
Suicidal thoughts can be prevented by following the recommendations of the health-care provider. Whether treatment is recommended or medications and counseling are suggested or not, following through on treatment is the best means of prevention.
Suicidal thoughts can be frightening, and they can indicate a serious illness. People with depression or other forms of mental illness are not weak-willed. They have a real disease. And "real" medications are usually part of successful treatment.
If you are wondering how to help someone with suicidal thoughts, consider the following: If you feel that someone is depressed, ask. If you are concerned that someone might be considering suicide, ask. If someone volunteers to you that they are thinking about suicide, please listen. It might be the only cry for help they utter and therefore be one of the keys to suicide prevention.
Suicidal Thoughts Prognosis
The outcome for a person experiencing suicidal thoughts depends on the cause of the thoughts and the associated conditions.
- The occasional thought about death without the worrisome symptoms can be ignored.
- Many people having suicidal thoughts are depressed. For those diagnosed with depression, the prognosis is good for a full recovery with depression treatment in the form of antidepressant medication and counseling, including counseling on how to stop suicidal and other self-destructive thoughts.
- For those with alcohol or drug problems, recovery can be long and difficult, but it can be done.
- Those with more severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia may hope for great improvement in their disease with the aid of medication and regular psychiatric care.
Support Groups and Counseling for Suicidal Thoughts
Many support groups exist to help people who are thinking of suicide learn how to deal with those feelings. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, call 1-800-SUICIDE. Individuals who have thought of suicide, attempted suicide, or people who are survivors of the suicide of a loved one may also benefit from these resources.
For More Information About Suicidal Thoughts
NAMI
3803 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100
Arlington, VA 22203
703-524-7600
SAMHSA's National Mental Health and Information Center
PO Box 42557
Washington, DC 20015
1-877-726-4727
TDD: 1-800-487-4889
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
55 E. Jackson Blvd, Suite 490
Chicago, IL 60604
1-800-826-3632
Mental Health America
500 Montgomery Street, Suite 820
Alexandria, VA 22314
Toll-free:
1-800-969-6642
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REFERENCES:
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). Practice Parameter for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Suicidal Behavior. AACAP 2000.
Crosby, A. "Suicidal Behaviors in the African American Community." Journal of Black Psychologists 32.3 Aug. 2006: 1-9.
Goodwin, R.D., and A. Marusic. "Association Between Short Sleep and Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempt Among Adults in the General Population." Sleep 31.8 Aug. 2008 August: 1097-1101.
Kamath, P., Y.C. Reddy, and T. Kandavel. "Suicidal Behavior in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder." Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 68.11 Nov. 2007: 1741-1750.
Makhija, N., and L. Sher. "Childhood Abuse, Adult Alcohol Use Disorders and Suicidal Behavior." Quarterly Journal of Medicine 100 (2007): 305-309.
Miklowitz, D.J., D.A. Axelson, B. Birmaher, et al. "Family-Focused Treatment for Adolescents With Bipolar Disorder: Results of a 2-Year Randomized Trial." Journal of Affective Disorders 82.1 Oct. 2004: S113-S128.
Physicians' Desk Reference Staff. Physicians' Desk Reference. 64th ed. PDR Network, LLC: New York City, 2009.
Postolache, T.T., H. Komarow, L.H. Tonelli. "Allergy: A Risk Factor for Suicide?" Current Treatment Options in Neurology 10.5 Sept. 2008: 363-376.