Yes, suicidal ideation is a symptom of PTSD. Posttraumatic stress disorder or PTSD usually happens when someone experiences a traumatic event. It could be an accident, sexual assault, or violence.
A survey of 5,877 people across the U.S. found that those who had experienced sexual or physical assault had an increased risk of attempting suicide at some point in their life. Among those with PTSD diagnosis, about 27% tried suicide. The suicide attempts increased greatly among those who had multiple cases of physical (73.5%) and sexual assault (42.9%).
PTSD is a mental health disorder and is often accompanied by severe anxiety, panic attacks, depression, anger, and substance abuse. These symptoms can be overwhelming and may trigger the thought of self-harm or even suicide. Add that to the symptoms like having stressful memories of trauma, and the risk goes even higher.
Other risks for suicide include: having a family history of suicide, being male, owning guns, and lack of social support.
Take our PTSD quiz to see if you may be suffering from a post-traumatic stress disorder.