As we continue suicide prevention awareness month, let’s expand our knowledge on the different types of suicide/suicidality and why it’s so important to do so. Differentiating between ideation and intent helps to determine the level of urgency and appropriate therapeutic intervention. For example, individuals with suicidal ideation may benefit from preventive measures such as regular counseling/therapy and support networks, focusing on addressing the underlying distress and promoting resilience. However, those with intent require immediate intervention*, including safety planning, crisis management. Tailoring interventions based on the level of risk enhances their effectiveness and ensures the individual receives the appropriate level of care.
(*Immediate intervention does NOT always include voluntary or involuntary psychiatric holds in an inpatient facility. Licensed professionals have an ethical duty to be able to properly differentiate between the two; just because we talk about suicidality in a session, does NOT mean you will need admission into a care facility. If a clinical mental health professional feels comfortable de-escalating a client from talking/thinking about intent on an active level, they may safely return home with the understanding that check-ins may be requested and additional referral for adding to client’s care plan will likely be strongly recommended.)
Now what exactly do suicide ideation or intent truly mean in the realm of therapy?
Suicide ideation refers to the presence of thoughts or fantasies related to ending one’s own life (AFSP).
And these suicidal ideations exist on a vast spectrum, from actively planning to die by suicide to passive suicide ideation/being passively suicidal. Passive suicidal ideation refers to having thoughts of death without a clear plan or intent to actively end your own life and can be the result of suicidal thoughts (called ideations). Suicidal thoughts, much like mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or background. While suicidal thoughts are common, they should not be dismissed or written off as “attention-seeking” behavior – they often indicate more serious underlying issues.
For more research, information, and resources on suicide of all kinds, please utilize these resources.:
If you or a loved one is experiencing active suicide ideation/intent, please contact 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org/about/ in addition to contacting your local inpatient/intensive outpatient mental health facilities. Please reach out to our offices or any of these crisis sources for more information.