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.

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.

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.

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