Suicide was the tenth leading cause of death in the United States in 2019, accounting for twice as many deaths as homicides. Suicidal ideation is the largest warning sign of the potential to commit suicide. Suicidal ideation is the contemplation of suicide or the desire to commit suicide.
However, there are different forms of suicidal ideation, and they may manifest in different ways. It is important to recognize and address suicidal ideation to improve your quality of life and manage your emotions for your overall mental health.
Passive Suicidal Ideation vs Active Suicidal Ideation
Passive suicidal ideation is the contemplation of suicide without having a plan to carry it out. These thoughts often manifest in less direct ways, such as wishing to die in a car crash or work accident without ever expressing the intent to commit suicide oneself.
Meanwhile, active suicidal ideation is the contemplation of suicide while also having a plan to carry out the act. Active suicidal ideation is more dangerous because it demonstrates that a person is actively hoping to commit suicide.
Although there are different forms of suicidal ideation, passive suicidal ideation vs active suicidal ideation is still a difficult debate as passive suicidal thoughts can easily turn into active thoughts. Therefore, you should take both conditions seriously. If you or a loved one think you may be experiencing either of these conditions, you should discuss them with a doctor or mental health professional.
Signs of Suicidal Ideation
Studies show that approximately 11% of people experience passive ideations over their lifetime. If you think you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal ideations, there are a few indicators to look for:
- Wishing to no longer be alive or having passive suicidal thoughts, like thinking about committing suicide without having a plan in mind for how to do it.
- Isolating from family or friends.
- Expressing feelings of hopelessness
- Being less careful or considerate in decision making and engaging in risky behavior, like using drugs or reckless driving.
- A disinterest in discussing the future.
- A pattern of mood swings or negative emotions like anger or irritability.
- Making comments about no longer being alive.
If you or a loved one is experiencing any of these passive suicidal ideations indicators, you should talk to your doctor. You and your doctor will be able to discuss your suicidal ideation experience more deeply while considering how long you’ve experienced these thoughts, your mental health history and whether you have a plan to act on your thoughts. Having the guidance of a professional can make an important difference in helping you or a loved one tackle negative emotions.
Causes of Passive Suicidal Ideation
People may experience passive suicidal ideations for a variety of reasons; it isn’t a one-size-fits-all condition. Many risk factors can increase the likelihood of experiencing passively suicidal feelings or thoughts. You should pay extra attention to your emotions and consider seeking support if you or a loved one experience any of the following risk factors:
- Having a mental health condition like depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety
- Experiencing a crisis, like the loss of a loved one
- Undergoing increased stress due to work or family circumstances
- Struggling with financial difficulties or uncertainty
- Feeling frequent loneliness
- Having a chronic physical illness like cancer or diabetes
- Enduring chronic pain
- Suffering a traumatic brain injury
- Having a family history of suicide
Although these are common causes and risk factors, this is not an exhaustive or exact list. Other social factors like having been in the military or living in a rural area can also increase the likelihood of suicidal ideation.
Regardless of your experience, you should consider these risk factors or be conscious of factors in your life that may be leading to negative emotions. In any moment of increased stress, you should ensure that you have support and proper strategies to help you cope.
Treatment for Suicidal Ideation
Even if there is no plan in mind, passive suicidal ideation should be addressed quickly and with quality care. Any negative feelings or suicidal thoughts are dangerous. Suicidal thoughts also decrease your quality of life. There are several treatment options that you can discuss with a mental health professional to find the right one for you. Some treatment options include the following:
- Psychotherapy – psychotherapy is the strategy of discussing suicidal ideations with a therapist to identify the causes of them and find ways to address them.
- Medications – Medications can help address underlying causes of suicidal ideation like depression, anxiety, or other mental health disorders. Working with a psychiatrist can help you decide if medications like anti-depressants would benefit you.
- Family therapy and education – This form of therapy involves loved ones in the treatment process. This is helpful in cases where a difficult family situation may be an underlying cause of negative emotions or when the family should have a role in the treatment plan.
- Changing habits – Changing habits may also be an effective treatment plan. Sometimes having better strategies to improve sleep and eating habits and manage stress can be a strong enough treatment on its own.
- Substance use treatment – This form of treatment can be helpful if suicidal thoughts are the cause of, or are leading to, a pattern of drug or alcohol abuse.
When to Contact Medical or Emergency Help While Experiencing Suicidal Ideations
Passive suicidal ideation treatment may look different for everyone, which is why it is important to have a conversation with your doctor or a qualified mental health professional to determine which treatment is right for you. Regardless, you or your loved ones should have a proper support system when undergoing treatment to help manage the natural ups and downs.
If passive thoughts start to become active and you or a loved one develop a plan to commit suicide, then contact 911 or find a local crisis center immediately. There is plenty of help to overcome negative emotions, so you can live your life to the fullest.
Ways to Prevent or Cope with Suicidal Ideation
Although the risk of passive suicidal ideation may not be as high as active thoughts, If you or a loved one are experiencing suicidal thoughts, there are several ways to take care of yourself and help you manage them. That way you can experience each day more positively:
Understanding Triggers
Finding what factors in your life cause feelings of hopelessness may help you better address or avoid them. For example, if you are struggling with substance use or a difficult relationship, you may be able to find ways to move past them. On the other hand, if there are more difficult factors to avoid, like a stressful job or a traumatic life event, then finding the right person to talk to can help you express some of your emotions.
Treating Your Body Right
Physical health and mental health often go hand-in-hand. Life can be busy and factors like a healthy diet and a good night’s sleep can easily become deprioritized as a result. Thus, making time for consistent, nutritious meals and getting at least eight hours of sleep a night will provide your body with the energy it needs to function properly.
Exercise also has a positive impact on your mental health while making you feel better physically as well. By taking care of your body, you can often feel more mentally refreshed and comfortable on a more frequent basis.
Do Things You Enjoy
Being able to cope with negative thoughts and emotions is easier when you are able to replace them with positive ones. Therefore, it is necessary to find time each day for activities that you enjoy.
Whether you enjoy being social or taking time for yourself, you should provide yourself with the right space by going out with friends or scheduling alone time. It is also beneficial to have hobbies that give you time away from stressors in life. Activities like hiking, art, and playing an instrument are all great ways to bring positive emotions and enjoyment into your day.
Find a Community
Humans are social beings, so having people to lean on and talk to is crucial. Finding people that you enjoy being around will help you embrace positive emotions over negative ones. Engaging in community activities like volunteer work or events can also help provide you with a stronger sense of fulfillment and happiness.
Allow Yourself Time to Relax
Work, relationships and other commitments can lead to a lot of stress. Thus, it’s important to find time throughout the day to prioritize relaxation. Meditation, breathing exercises, and light exercise can all help you calm your mind and body. Having ways to confront stress is highly beneficial in helping you overcome it.
All of the strategies that we just mentioned can help you manage and reduce forms of suicidal ideation. Finding coping mechanisms that work for you will allow you an improved quality of life.
Although having strong coping mechanisms will lead to consistent progress, you still should not tackle suicidal ideations alone. Having a counselor or mental health specialist to talk to and discuss your life experiences with will make a positive difference to help enhance your daily life.
If you have more questions about passive suicidal ideation or are in need of mental health and/or substance use assistance, Harmony Ridge Recovery Center can help. You and your loved ones should never have to work through negative thoughts and emotions alone.
We provide personalized, evidence-based treatments and quality care to help our members thrive. We believe that everyone deserves a strong support system to live their lives happily and to their full potential. Contact us here at Harmony Ridge Recovery Center for more information.