Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: How Therapy Can Save Lives
Posted by Improving Lives Counseling Services, Inc. | Mental Health
“The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.” This quote by Fyodor Dostoevsky underscores the belief that human existence is not merely about survival, but about finding purpose in one’s life. Individuals diagnosed with suicidal ideation are often described as having lost purpose – or a reason to live. The psychiatric community identifies mental illness, traumatic stress, substance abuse, the loss of a loved one, disenfranchisement, discrimination, body image issues, homelessness, and extreme poverty as contributing factors to suicidal behavior. However, despite ongoing research, the exact reason an individual takes their own life remains unclear.
People diagnosed with mental illness, those suffering from chronic health conditions, veterans, healthcare professionals, first responders, individuals experiencing homelessness, and incarcerated individuals are frequently monitored for indicators of suicidal ideation. Improving Lives Counseling Services’ team of licensed, professional counselors, therapists, and clinicians, use Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Psychotherapy, and Prolonged Grief Therapy in treating suicidal ideation.
WHAT IS SUICIDAL IDEATION
Shaped by various psychological, social, and environmental factors, suicidal ideation are thoughts centered around death or dying. Experiencing, or being diagnosed with suicidal ideation doesn’t always lead to killing oneself, it is a warning sign often seen as a symptom of psychological or emotional distress. Associated with schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal ideation is a predictor of an attempted, or completed suicide.
WHO IS MOST AFFECTED
The disenfranchised, the homeless, teens forced out by parents, LGBTQ adolescents and teens, foster care teens forced from the program at 18, and victims of child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual assault, often experience the hopelessness and despair associated with suicidal ideation. In addition, extreme trauma, and being or feeling marginalized, economically, racially, culturally, or socially can exacerbate suicidal thoughts. Substance abuse (pills, alcohol, drugs) can intensify feelings of being a negative impact on the family – a burden on society, unneeded, unwanted, and unloved.
Studies show during COVID19, there was a significant rise in suicidal ideation, and suicides among healthcare professionals, first responders, essential workers, firefighters, policemen, young people, and women. In addition, lawyers are 3.6 times more likely to suffer from anxiety, stress, substance abuse, and depression, significantly increasing their risk of suicidal ideation. This is particularly true for lawyers who lose major cases, or who specialize in rape, incest, child abuse, domestic violence, juvenile, and juvenile offender cases.
“Substance use, particularly involving alcohol significantly heightens suicide risk. Due to associated impulsivity and aggression this risk increases further when combined with bipolar or depressive disorder.”
Suicidal ideation is common. One study reported that 10.6 million adults (people over age 18) in the United States, or 4.3% of the U.S. adult population, experienced suicidal thoughts. Among children (before age 18) in the United States, 18% thought about attempting suicide – these numbers only reflect reported cases.
PASSIVE VERSES ACTIVE SUICIDAL IDEATION
When a young teen says, “I wish I were dead” because they are grounded, it does not constitute suicidal ideation. Similarly, when an upset toddler or young child says, “I’m going to kill myself” while making a choking or stabbing motion, it is not considered suicidal ideation. The same applies when a parent, frustrated by a spouse, child, or situation, says, “I wish I were dead.” However, if such comments become frequent and occur without any specific triggering event, and are accompanied by signs of stress, anxiety, depression, personality changes, increased self-talk, loss of appetite, refusal to engage in activities they previously enjoyed, or social isolation, professional therapy or counseling is strongly recommended.
Passive suicidal ideation involves thoughts of wanting or wishing to die, without the formulation of a specific plan to do so. Individuals experiencing passive suicidal ideation often express a desire to escape emotional pain but do not actively pursue the act of ending their life. This form of ideation reflects a general longing for relief, rather than a focused intention to die. Treatment is available.
Active suicidal ideation involves thoughts of death accompanied by a higher risk of action. Individuals with active suicidal ideation may disclose specific plans, such as, “I have access to the means to end my life and have already made a plan.” This form of ideation indicates a stronger intent, greatly increasing the likelihood of a suicide attempt. Immediate intervention is necessary in response to active suicidal ideation. This can be treated.
“Other contributing factors include chronic illness and physical pain, particularly when these conditions are accompanied by a diminished quality of life, leading individuals to perceive their suffering as unbearable.” (Chatgpt)
Access to lethal means of self-harm, such as firearms or medication, play a critical role in whether suicidal thoughts progress to suicide attempts. In 2022, the most recent year for which data is available, 26,993 Americans were lost to firearm suicide, the most ever recorded. Guns are the leading cause of death for American children; for children under 18, gun suicides surged 40% from 2013 to 2022.
Assessment of Suicidal Ideations Mental health professionals assess the severity of a person’s suicidal thoughts to determine the appropriate level of care. If someone is experiencing active suicidal thoughts, thinking about self-harm and possibly having a plan, they require immediate support. This can involve creating a safety plan, close monitoring, or hospitalization. When someone has passive suicidal thoughts, such as wishing they were no longer alive without any intention to act, they still require attention and care. In such cases, treatment typically focuses on addressing underlying issues like depression, anxiety, or trauma.
It’s important to understand the difference between passive and active suicidal thoughts. When someone’s thoughts shift from passive to active, the risk of harm goes up. That’s why it’s so important to keep checking in with people who show any signs of suicidal thinking. Getting help quickly can protect their safety and give them the support they need.
In Hindsight When a child dies by suicide, many parents reflect and acknowledge that, in hindsight, there were signs they initially overlooked. Children, teens, adults, and seniors, consistently talking about death or dying, might be a sign of ideation. Avoid “in hindsight” by scheduling an appointment with Improving Lives Counseling Services.
PURPOSE DRIVEN LIVING
“Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.” Maya Angelou
What inspires one person to live may not have the same impact on someone else. The reasons a person chooses to keep going, to hope, and to dream are deeply personal and unique. Dreams of graduating, learning to drive, getting married, having a family, or starting a new job can spark a sense of purpose. These imaginings, even as they shift and evolve, can help individuals understand who they are, who they want to become, and offer direction and meaning to life.
Human Connections
Human connections have the ability to ground us, remind us that we are not alone, reinforcing ones’ value. Feeling loved and supported by family, friends, or even pets can ease feelings of loneliness and isolation. The comfort of knowing someone understands you can be incredibly powerful.
Living for A Cause
Living for a cause greater than oneself can be deeply motivating. Taking action, whether it’s supporting a loved one through caregiving, volunteering, or advocating for something, or someone believed in, can create a renewed sense of purpose. Knowing one’s life can positively affect others is a powerful reminder of one’s worth.
Finding The Meaning
Meaning isn’t only found in grand achievements, but in the ordinary beauty of day-to-day living. Listening to music, walking in nature, reading a good book, or doing something just because it brings happiness are more than distractions, they are essential to mental health, and emotional well-being. They connect us to the present, and helping us appreciate life as it unfolds.
Creating Meaning
Painting, inventing, building, writing, taking a course, playing an instrument, watching a documentary, or cooking a meal – the act of creating, exploring, and learning can foster self-worth and a reason to continue living.
SUMMARY
The search for purpose doesn’t always lead to a single, defining answer. Sometimes, it’s a collection of moments that remind us why life matters. Meaning can come from goals, relationships, causes, or simply the joy of being alive and showing up for others. You never know when your words or actions, even the smallest ones, could one day be the reason someone finds hope.
Improving Lives Counseling Services’ professionally trained team of diverse counselors, therapists, and clinicians, through diagnosis and treatment, provide strategies, programs, and psychotherapy practices – in treating suicidal ideation, repairing and saving the lives of children, adolescents, teens, adults and seniors. Call us to learn more.
