- Having a preoccupation with death and constantly talking about death
- Taking part in dangerous behavior and taking life-threatening risks
- Self-isolating and avoiding social interactions
- Making statements or jokes about committing suicide
- Suddenly preparing a will or giving away items
- Exhibiting extreme mood swings
- Saying goodbye to friends and loved ones
It is important to note that in many cases, people who engage in suicidal ideation may not show any noticeable signs and symptoms. Suicide and suicidal ideation can impact people in our lives who on the outside may appear happy and healthy. Accordingly, it is crucial to be mindful of friends’ and family members’ mental health and always ask others how they are coping with difficulties in their lives.
In addition to being aware of signs and symptoms of suicidal ideation, people should also be aware of risk factors and potential trigger events for suicidal thoughts. Knowing these details can help people identify at-risk individuals even when they are not showing symptoms. Common risk factors and trigger events for suicidal ideation include:
- Suffering from a physical illness, particularly a terminal illness, or serious injury
- Dealing with a history of traumatic events
- Experiencing the loss of a loved one
- Dealing with a recent break up of a romantic relationship
- Facing legal or financial jeopardy
Additionally, engaging in increased substance abuse may be a sign of potential suicidal ideation. Sometimes, people engage in heavy substance abuse as a way to mask the pain of other issues in their lives. This substance abuse can lead to further deterioration in their lives, and they may consider suicide as the only option to deal with their pain. In some cases, heavy substance abuse can be a sign of a person giving up on their wellbeing and no longer caring about negative impacts on their physical and mental health.
How San Antonio Behavioral Healthcare Hospital’s medical staff can help deal with suicidal ideation
When a person engages in suicidal ideation, they are in need of help. These individuals feel that suicide may be the only option to deal with mental health challenges, and they often feel hopeless about improving their mental wellbeing.
At San Antonio Behavioral Healthcare Hospital, our clinical team has decades of experience helping people who engage in suicidal ideation improve their mental wellbeing. Our treatment programs include inpatient and outpatient programs for a range of mental health conditions that may contribute to a person’s suicidal thoughts. Our inpatient programs offer 24/7 monitoring and medication management, and our outpatient programs allow patients to continue participating in everyday activities, such as work and school while gaining the skills they need to continue improving their mental health.
During treatment programs, our behavioral health professionals at San Antonio Behavioral Healthcare Hospital help each patient understand the underlying causes of their suicidal ideation. Through individual therapy and group therapy sessions, we help people manage their mental health conditions and understand that they can improve their mental health. When people know that they can improve their mental health and get back to a life they enjoy, they no longer view suicide as the only option to deal with their pain.
Our team at San Antonio Behavioral Healthcare Hospital understands that each patient’s underlying reasons for suicidal ideation and life circumstances are unique. Accordingly, we customize each treatment program to the patient’s individual clinical needs and logistical requirements. Through customized treatment programs, our team can more consistently produce positive treatment outcomes.
Resources
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/suicide/symptoms-causes/syc-20378048
https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-recognizing-signs-of-suicide#1
