Despite people sometimes trying to make jokes about wanting to end their life from a minor inconvenience, it’s not funny. Having these thoughts on a regular basis is a serious mental health concern that deserves immediate treatment.
Suicidality is the risk of suicide. It comes from overwhelming negative thoughts and feelings, especially hopelessness. It often develops as a symptom of a diagnosable mental health condition, such as major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder. Suicidal ideation is a significant part of suicidality, referring to thoughts about taking your life.
If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal ideation, treatment can reduce the negative thoughts and the risk of suicide. It can also address the condition that the thoughts may be stemming from.
Read on to learn about methods that can help treat suicidal ideation and how to know when treatment is needed. We’ll also discuss how Guidelight can help.
For immediate support, call or text 988, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
4 treatments for suicidal ideation
In 2023, more than 12 million adults in the U.S. reported experiencing suicidal thoughts. With suicidal ideation being such a prevalent issue, there has been plenty of research about how to treat it.
Through evidence-backed methods, people experiencing suicidal ideation can work through the overwhelming negative thoughts and feelings to reduce the risk of a crisis or suicide attempt. Here are four that providers recommend:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT is often used as part of a person’s suicide safety and prevention plan. It’s carried out by a licensed counselor or therapist. It’s a therapeutic approach that focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings and behaviors.
Treating suicidal ideation with CBT involves identifying and adjusting the unhelpful thought processes that lead to suicidal thoughts, such as thoughts of hopelessness. It helps to adjust their negative thoughts and disconnect them from potential suicidal behaviors.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
DBT is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy. It focuses on treating intense emotions, especially negative emotions that can lead to suicidal ideation.
DBT helps people to develop emotional regulation and effective communication skills to improve their overall well-being during distressing situations. For people experiencing suicidal ideation, it helps you to reduce overwhelming negative emotions by focusing on the present moment.
Medication
Suicidal ideation is often connected to conditions that can be treated through medication. There isn’t a medication specifically aimed toward reducing suicidal thoughts. However, there are prescriptions for major depressive disorder that can reduce symptoms, such as suicidal ideation.
In combination with therapy, it’s possible that you’ll be prescribed medication, such as an antidepressant. It can help to reduce the severity and frequency of your suicidal thoughts. But it shouldn’t be the sole treatment used.
Inpatient or residential treatment
If someone is experiencing persistent or worsening suicidal thoughts, 24/7 support in a facility, such as a residential treatment center, may be the most effective in reducing the risk of taking their own life.
Hospitalization isn’t often required. Inpatient care is only for patients experiencing a severe mental health crisis. Guidelight’s PHP can be a suitable alternative to inpatient or residential.
How to know if treatment for suicidal ideation is needed
Some people think it’s OK to make jokes or offhand comments about taking their life. That’s why it might not always be easy to tell when they actually are at risk. Especially because not all suicidal ideation is the same.
- Passive suicidal ideation — Thinking about death or possibly not wanting to be alive, but not having intentions to actually take your life.
- Active suicidal ideation — Having thoughts of suicide and deliberately trying to make plans to take their life.
Active ideation has a higher risk of suicide and requires a more intensive treatment plan. If you’re saying things like “I wish I were dead,” and are researching means of suicide, treatment is necessary. Feeling trapped, hopeless or worthless are also signs that it’s time to seek help.
Passive ideation should still be addressed if the thoughts are occurring on a regular basis. You want to ensure they don’t become active.
Guidelight provides evidence-based treatment for suicidal ideation
With the right treatment, people with suicidality can find support in managing their dangerous thoughts. At Guidelight, our programs incorporate CBT and DBT strategies to help address the dangerous thought processes, including:
The strategies are developed during individual and group sessions. Our PHP also includes medication management.
We also provide personalized treatment for conditions that may be a risk factor for suicidality, including:
Everyone has a seat at Guidelight. Contact our team online or call us today for more information about suicidal ideation or to schedule an initial evaluation.