The Unspoken Truth About Suicidal Ideation
Suicidal ideation is a complex and multifaceted issue that affects millions of people worldwide. Despite its prevalence, it remains shrouded in stigma, making it difficult for individuals to open up about their struggles. However, it’s essential to understand that suicidal ideation is not a sign of weakness or flawed character. Rather, it’s a cry for help, a desperate attempt to escape the overwhelming pain and distress that accompanies mental health struggles.
The Statistics Are Alarming
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 34, with the highest death rates among white females, Indigenous or Hispanic males, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. In 2017, an estimated 10.6 million Americans reported having considered suicide. While women are more likely to experience suicidal ideation, men are four times more likely to die by suicide.
Systemic Problems Worsen Suicidality
The inability to address systemic problems can exacerbate suicidal ideation, particularly in communities facing structural inequity, internalized oppression, and “model minority” pressures. Factors such as depression, anxiety, family history, and chronic illnesses can also contribute to the occurrence or recurrence of suicidal thoughts.
What Is Suicidal Ideation?
At its core, suicidal ideation is having thoughts about struggling to live or not wanting to live. It’s not necessarily a clear-cut sign of being extremely unwell or in danger. In fact, some normalized statements people make every day could fall under the definition of suicidality, such as “I’m not doing anything meaningful with my life” or “I feel totally useless.”
The Spectrum of Suicidal Ideation
Suicidal ideation exists on a spectrum, ranging from passive to active. Passive ideation involves thinking about not being able to deal with life without the intention of acting on it, while active ideation involves more detailed thoughts and plans to die. Identifying the type of ideation is crucial when discussing it.
Breaking Down the Stigma
The media often portrays suicidal ideation as a sign of extreme illness or weakness, contributing to dehumanization and stigma. This can lead to suicide attempts and deaths that appear sudden because people don’t feel like they can talk about it. However, suicidal ideation can be simply broken down into a desire for pain to cease. It’s an understandable defense mechanism and coping skill to consider suicide as a potential escape from pain.
Supporting Those Who Struggle
To support someone experiencing suicidal ideation, it’s essential to validate their experience or emotion without judgment. Find a way to listen without wanting to fix them or fix the problem. Access to therapy, medication, and online resources can also be incredibly helpful. Crisis hotlines, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and The Trevor Project, offer confidential emotional support to those in crisis.
Reconsidering Wellness Checks
Wellness checks, which involve calling the police on someone who is actively experiencing suicidal intent or ideation, can often be more traumatizing than helpful. Instead, finding ways to work with community members or friends to provide crisis intervention can be a more effective and compassionate approach.
Normalizing Conversations
It’s time to normalize talking about suicidal ideation. By doing so, we can work toward creating a system that knows how to better care for people who experience suicidality. It’s essential to understand that suicidal ideation is not a sign of weakness or flawed character. Rather, it’s a cry for help, a desperate attempt to escape the overwhelming pain and distress that accompanies mental health struggles.
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