Suicidality: Understanding Suicide Risk, Warning Signs, and Treatment Options
Suicidality—also referred to as suicidal ideation or suicidal thoughts—is a serious mental health crisis that can be influenced by multiple factors, including depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, PTSD, schizophrenia, trauma, and substance abuse. While these conditions may increase someone’s suicide risk, not everyone experiencing mental health challenges develops suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
Any reference to suicide should always be taken seriously. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, self-harm urges, or a mental health emergency, call 911 immediately or go to the nearest emergency room.
In the U.S., you can call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for immediate support.
If you are outside the U.S., look up your country’s suicide prevention hotline.
Warning Signs of Suicidality
Recognizing the early warning signs of suicide can save a life. Although symptoms vary, common indicators of suicidal ideation include:
- Talking about wanting to die, self-harm, or not wanting to live
- Expressing hopelessness, worthlessness, or feeling like a burden
- Withdrawing from friends, family, or previously enjoyed activities
- Engaging in reckless, dangerous, or impulsive behaviors
- Increased alcohol or drug use
- Dramatic mood swings, irritability, or sudden calm after severe depression
- Giving away belongings or making final arrangements
- Feeling trapped, overwhelmed, or unable to escape emotional pain
- Saying goodbye or expressing finality in conversations
Even if a person shows only one warning sign, take it seriously. Immediate professional support is essential.
Treatment for Suicidal Thoughts and Suicidal Behavior
Suicidality treatment requires a personalized and comprehensive mental health plan tailored to each individual’s needs. Treatment typically includes:
Ensuring Immediate Safety
If someone is an immediate danger to themselves, emergency intervention is required. Crisis response teams, hotlines, hospitals, and emergency services can provide immediate safety and stabilization.
Full Mental Health Evaluation
A licensed therapist, psychiatrist, or psychologist will:
- Evaluate suicide risk
- Identify underlying mental health disorders
- Develop a structured and safe treatment plan
Levels of Care for Suicidality
Depending on severity, your provider may recommend:
These treatment options ensure safety while addressing emotional regulation, crisis management, and long-term mental health stabilization.
Therapies Used to Treat Suicidal Ideation
Evidence-based therapies for suicidality include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Helps identify harmful thoughts and teaches coping strategies for crisis situations.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Highly effective for individuals with chronic suicidal thoughts, self-harm urges, or emotional regulation difficulties.
- Trauma-Informed Therapy Addresses underlying trauma or PTSD contributing to suicidal ideation.
- Medication Management Psychiatric medications—such as antidepressants, mood stabilizers, or anti-anxiety medications—may be prescribed to address underlying conditions like depression or bipolar disorder.
- Safety Planning Intervention A personalized plan including: Warning signs, Coping strategies, Crisis contacts, Ways to reduce access to dangerous items
Finding Hope: Support for Suicidal Thoughts
If you are struggling with suicidal ideation, help is available—and recovery is possible. Key steps include:
- Reach out to someone you trust
- Call a suicide hotline like 988
- Follow your mental health treatment plan
- Create a safety plan with a mental health professional
- Remove access to harmful items
- Avoid drugs and alcohol, which worsen impulsivity and depression
- Stay connected to supportive friends, family, and peer groups
- Take care of your physical and emotional health
Suicidal thoughts are temporary, and with proper treatment and support, you can regain hope, stability, and a sense of purpose.
How to Support a Loved One With Suicidal Thoughts
If someone you love is suicidal:
- Take all signs seriously
- Encourage them to seek immediate professional help
- Stay with them if they are in danger
- Remove access to weapons, medications, or sharp objects
- Call 911 or 988 if there is immediate risk
- Help them find therapists or treatment programs
- Listen without judgment, advice, or criticism
- Help them develop a safety plan
- Encourage ongoing treatment and follow-up care
Supporting someone in crisis can be emotionally exhausting, so remember to take care of your own mental health as well.
