I’m Thinking of Committing Suicide, But Can’t Tell You

6 min read

Hi everyone, I’m Rick Barron, your host, and welcome to my podcast, That’s Life, I Swear

Now here’s something you may not know. A lot of us think about suicide. The problem is we’re afraid to speak to each other about it. The lack of knowledge about the prevalence of ‘suicidal ideation’ has hampered suicide prevention.

Let’s jump into this.

Suicide is a growing global public health concern, with an estimated 1 million people dying from suicide annually and even more people attempting it. However, suicide prevention has been hampered by the lack of knowledge about the prevalence of suicidal ideation, especially chronic "passive suicidal ideation," which is defined as frequently considering the thought of taking one's own life without actively planning to do so.

Thinking the unthinkable. Courtesy of: John Hopkins Medicine

Why does this matter?

Thinking of people as either ‘suicidal’ or ‘not suicidal’ can be an oversimplification.

The realities of suicide are a lot more complex than we realize. Suicidal ideation exists on a wide range. The range goes from wanting to be dead to actively making plans to commit suicide.

In the United States suicide rates increased by approximately 36% between 2000–2021. Suicide was responsible for 48,183 deaths in 2021, about one every 11 minutes. The number of people who think about or attempt suicide is even higher. In 2021, an estimated 12.3 million American adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.5 million planned a suicide attempt, and 1.7 million attempted suicides.

People who struggle with suicidal thoughts, who think their problems are “real” enough to matter, hold back from wanting to tell friends and setting off alarm bells.

It’s these misconceptions that leave many people too afraid or ashamed to speak out. To help people, we must be willing to go beyond our black-and-white understanding of suicide.

Acknowledging this problem helps those in need to know that society encourages individuals to share their thoughts and access appropriate help.

Suicide chart. Courtesy of: National Center for Health Statistics

Data for 2022 shows that suicide was the 11th leading cause of death nationwide, with more than 14 deaths for every 100,000 people. The death rate increased 32% over the past two decades, and the 4% jump between 2020 and 2021 was the sharpest annual increase in that timeframe.

The reasons why people experience passive suicidal ideation are complex and multifaceted. Often, it results from underlying mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. These conditions can create a negative thought cycle, leading to feelings of hopelessness, despair, and worthlessness, making the idea of suicide seem like a way out. Fair to say many people worldwide went through all these emotions big time during COVID.

Additionally, chronic stress and trauma, such as abusive relationships, financial difficulties, and chronic illnesses, can contribute to suicidal tendencies. The fear of being judged, rejected, or dismissed by others can also make individuals reluctant to talk about their thoughts and feelings regarding suicide, perpetuating their isolation and despair.

Three things you need to know

1.     It is essential to acknowledge and address passive suicidal ideation because it is a significant risk factor for suicide attempts and completion. Furthermore, research shows that individuals who experience emotions are more likely to attempt suicide than those who do not have such thoughts. Therefore, early intervention and support are crucial in preventing suicide and helping individuals achieve better mental health and well-being.

2.     Though talking one-on-one works, public conversations about suicide are riskier. A suicide attempt resulting in death, when widely publicized, will increase suicide attempts, especially when a famous person dies this way.

3.     After Robin Williams killed himself, the suicide rate in the U.S. was 10% higher over the following four months, suggesting that about 1,800 people who, statistically speaking, wouldn’t otherwise have killed themselves died as a consequence.

Suicide contagion can happen in response to the suicide of a celebrity, a family member, or a peer, and often coincides with media reports about the suicide. Suicide contagion is most likely to happen among adolescents and young adults.

Encouraging individuals to share their thoughts and access appropriate help is crucial in dealing with passive suicidal ideation. Society must create an environment where individuals feel safe and supported when discussing their feelings and experiences. Community-based programs, educational initiatives, and mental health awareness campaigns that promote positive attitudes toward mental health and destigmatize mental illness can be beneficial. 

The public must be educated about the warning signs of suicide and taught how to respond to those in crisis, including appropriate referral pathways and resources.

What are some of those warning signs?

Thoughts of taking your life. Courtesy of: Very Well Mind 350

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], psychological factors, distressing situations, or genetics can increase the likelihood of someone considering, attempting, or dying by suicide. These risk factors can’t cause or predict a suicide attempt, but being aware of them is important:

1.     Hopelessness. “They don’t have a sense of the future getting better, or they just feel really unable to imagine not being in the pain that they’re in,”

2.     Off the cuff comments such as “I swear I’m sick of everything I want to kill myself’. Are these comments repetitive?

3.     Substance abuse problems

4.     Family or personal history of suicide

5.     Prolonged stress from other causes, such as harassment or bullying

These are but a few, I’ve provided various links with my podcast script to take a look at for other warning signs to be aware of.

Healthcare professionals, including mental health practitioners and primary care physicians, also play a crucial role in identifying and treating passive suicidal ideation. For example, regular mental health screening can help identify individuals at risk of suicide and provide appropriate treatment and support. In addition, evidence-based therapies such as psychotherapy and medication can help individuals manage their underlying mental health conditions and reduce the severity of suicidal thoughts.

However, it is crucial to recognize that individuals may hesitate to seek help due to the stigma associated with mental illness or the fear of being labeled as "crazy" or "weak." Therefore, it is crucial to provide mental health services that are accessible, affordable, and culturally sensitive. This can be achieved by investing in mental health services, ensuring that insurance covers mental health treatment, and providing mental health support in schools and workplaces.

Encouraging individuals to share their thoughts and access appropriate help is crucial in addressing this problem. Society must create an environment that promotes positive attitudes towards mental health and destigmatizes mental illness. Healthcare professionals must also play a crucial role in identifying and treating passive suicidal ideation. Working together can prevent suicide and help individuals achieve better mental health and well-being. 

What can we learn from this story? What’s the take away

Suicide is complex, and a comprehensive approach is needed to address different aspects of this preventable public health problem. Evidence-based treatment to address suicidal ideation, self-harm, and suicide attempts is one key aspect of a broader set of programs, practices, and policies that aim to decrease suicide risk and increase protective factors.

For those contemplating suicide, take that leap of faith and talk with your family, friends, or even better a doctor. Let them know what you are going through. There are other options.

Well, there you go. That's life, I swear.

For further information regarding the material covered in this episode, I invite you to visit my website, which you can find on either Apple Podcasts/iTunes or Google Podcasts, for show notes, movie information clips, and the episode transcript. 

As always, I thank you for listening. 

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