Question 1

What is acute suicidal ideation?

Accepted Answer

Suicide ideation or suicidal thoughts refers to thinking about or planning suicide. It is when one is preoccupied with the idea of suicide and regularly thinks about how they will take their life or how life would be once they are gone.

People experience suicidal ideation during times of stress or when dealing with physical or mental health challenges. For some, suicide ideation may be passive like wishing they would die or were dead but not have plans to end their lives.

For others, suicide ideation may be active where they are not just thinking about taking their own life, but are planning how to execute it. A 2017 survey by SAMHSA showed that 4.3% of US adults 18+ had suicide ideation.

Question 2

Is suicidal ideation a symptom of PTSD?

Accepted Answer

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.

Think you might have PTSD?

Take our PTSD quiz to see if you may be suffering from a post-traumatic stress disorder.

Question 3

What is the suicidal zone?

Accepted Answer

A suicide zone is a mental state where all a person can think of is ending their lives. They have everything planned out and are even ready to take action. A person gets into the suicidal zone when the risk factors overpower the protective ones, and the stressors interact with their underlying risk.

When someone enters the suicidal zone, it can be hard to pull themselves out of the situation.

Question 4

What country has the highest suicidal deaths 2020?

Accepted Answer

Lithuania, with 31.9 suicides per 100,000 people, has the highest suicide rate among countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It's important to note that this data is from 2016, which is the most recent year available. Suicide rates in 2020 could be significantly higher because of the the widespread impact of COVID-19.

Here are the top five countries with the highest suicides per 100,000 people:

Lithuania - 31.9
Russia - 31
Guyana - 29.2
South Korea - 26.9
Belarus - 26.2

Question 5

Can ADHD Make You Suicidal?

Accepted Answer

Yes, ADHD can make you suicidal.

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that involves delays in how a person manages to control and regulate their attention, emotion, and behavior.

People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may have an increased risk of suicide because of their anxiety and higher levels of impulsivity.

Impulsivity, a prominent symptom of ADHD, can drive one from suicidal thoughts to suicidal behaviors when in distress.

People with ADHD are more prone to acting in dangerous or risky ways and spend less time thinking about the effects or permanence of trying to end their lives.

Additionally, people with ADHD have a hard time following instructions or keeping up with social cues. If untreated, these struggles may cause stress, anxiety, and depression.

They may also increase conflict with others, leading to feelings of hopelessness, loneliness, rejection, and failure.

People with ADHD often turn to substance use to self-medicate their anxiety.

However, this only increases the risk of suicide.

Do I have adult ADHD?

Take this 3-Minute Adult ADHD Test to find out if you have the symptoms of ADHD.

Find a therapist who can help with ADHD

The Monarch Directory by SimplePractice makes it easy to find mental health professionals who specialize in ADHD, many with online booking, telehealth video appointments, and free 15-minute consultations.

Question 6

Are there warning signs of suicide?

Accepted Answer

If a loved one expresses suicidal thoughts, they should be taken very seriously. Here are some important reminders.

Do not leave the person alone
Remove any firearms, alcohol, substances or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt
Text TALK to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or
Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional

Suicide warning signs include:

Expressing suicidal thoughts
Disinterested in life
Sleeping too much or not sleeping at all
A sudden shift from being very depressed to calm
Getting affairs in order, changing a will, giving pets away

If someone you love is displaying any of these signs, take action immediately.

What is acute suicidal ideation?

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