Suicidal Ideation: Symptoms, Finding Help, And More - Healthline

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Medically reviewed by Bethany Juby, PsyD — Written by Traci Angel — Updated on June 30, 2025

Symptoms
Risk factors
Passive suicidal ideation
Medications
Treatments
Prevention
Takeaway

It’s important to know what warning signs to look for if you or someone you know is dealing with suicidal ideation. Remember, you are not alone and treatment and support can help you.

If your doctor diagnoses you with suicidal ideation, it means that you’re preoccupied with the idea of suicide. You may regularly think about the way you would take your own life or think about what life would be like if you weren’t around. You may also replay the suicidal act in your mind.

It’s important to know what warning signs to look for if you or someone you know is dealing with suicidal ideation. The sooner you recognize the signs, the sooner you can find the help you need.

Help is available

Remember that you’re not alone and resources are available to help you. Call a crisis line or prevention hotline to speak to someone who can help you find the support you need.

For 24/7 free and confidential support from caring counselors who are available to listen, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat 988Lifeline.org.

Symptoms

Signs that you or someone is having serious thoughts of suicide can include:

feeling empty, trapped, or hopeless
feeling extremely sad, anxious, or angry
talking about wanting to die or being a burden to others
preparing for suicide, such as making a plan or researching methods of suicide
taking dangerous risks, such as driving fast
displaying large shifts in mood
wanting to give away your possessions or treating people as if you might not see them again
withdrawing from friends
eating or sleeping significantly more or less
using drugs or alcohol more often

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or if you suspect someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call 911.

Read more: Suicide and suicidal behavior »

Risk factors

Suicide can run in families. You may be more likely to try to take your own life if someone in your family has already done so.

Seeking help early can help you reduce your risk for suicidal ideation and suicide.

Your risk of suicide might increase if you have:

a substance use problem
a mental disorder or stress condition
chronic pain, terminal illness, or another medical situation in which you might feel hopeless
attempted suicide before
job or financial difficulties

Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol may also increase your risk for suicidal ideation and going through with the act.

Passive suicidal ideation

Passive suicidal ideation is when a person desires death but has no specific plan to take their life.

If you’re experiencing passive suicidal ideation, your fantasies may involve dying in your sleep or having a fatal accident. You may believe that the world would be better off without you.

You shouldn’t take passive suicidal ideation lightly. It’s impossible to predict who’s likely to act on these thoughts. That’s why anyone who expresses passive suicidal ideation should be considered at risk for suicide.

Even if passive suicidal ideation appears to be fleeting, the risk of a suicide attempt is very real. The line between passive and active suicidal ideation is blurry. The transition from one to the other can happen slowly or suddenly, and it’s not always obvious to the casual observer.

While someone might admit to wishing to die, they may deny making plans to do so. Warning signs that suicidal ideation has become active include giving away possessions, getting affairs in order, and saying goodbye to loved ones.

No one could ever predict with 100 percent certainty if someone will or will not take their own life. Even trained medical professionals can’t predict who will take their life. This is why you need to take threats or thoughts of suicide seriously.

See your doctor or psychiatrist for a careful evaluation and to get appropriate treatment.

Medications and suicidal ideation

Researchers have linked antidepressants with an increase in suicidal thoughts in some instances. Children and adolescents are at increased risk of this. However, more high quality, long-term studies are needed to confirm this link, if it exists.

If you begin having thoughts of suicide while taking an antidepressant, contact your doctor immediately. They can work with you to safely adjust your treatment plan.

Questions you may be asked

When you see your doctor, they’ll ask you many questions so they can assess the severity of your situation. Some questions your doctor may ask include:

How long have you had thoughts of suicide?
Do you have a history of depression?
How far have your thoughts of suicide gone? Have you come up with a plan?
Are you taking any medications? If so, what are they?
Do you use alcohol or drugs? If so, how often?

You should also expect your doctor to ask you to take a questionnaire. Your answers will help your doctor evaluate your mental health and develop a course of treatment.

How is suicidal ideation treated?

Your doctor will treat your depression according to the severity of your condition.

You doctor may prescribe antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication. These can help you manage your symptoms. You should also expect your treatment plan to include talking to a psychologist or counselor.

Ask your doctor or psychologist about ways to find additional support. They can recommend a support group. They may also have recommendations for how to get help if you use alcohol or drugs that may be contributing to your challenges.

If your risk of suicide is high, you may need to stay in an inpatient treatment facility. This is for your safety. You can receive your treatment at the facility and you won’t have access to items you may use to commit suicide.

How can you prevent suicidal ideation?

Knowing your triggers for depression and suicidal ideation can help you avoid or better manage these triggers in the future.

Here are some strategies:

Keep track of situations you find stressful and how you handle them.
Keep a journal to help you understand and manage your feelings.
Find ways to relieve stress, such as physical activity or talking with a friend.
Seek help at the first signs of depression.
Call 911 if you’re having thoughts of suicide.

Your outlook for depression or suicidal thoughts will improve with a strong network of friends and family.

Talking with others about the challenges you’re facing may help. Physical activity can also help reduce depression, even if it is simply taking a walk outside.

Takeaway

Since there is no way to 100% accurately predict who will act on their thoughts, suicidal ideation should be taken very seriously, whether it is passive or not.

Treatment for suicidal ideation is available and can be successful. Ask for help if you need it.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Do antidepressants increase the risk of suicide in children and adolescents? (n.d.).https://www.aacap.org/aacap/medical_students_and_residents/mentorship_matters/developmentor/Do_Antidepressants_Increase_the_Risk_of_Suicide_in_Children_and_Adolescents.aspx
Harmer B, et al. (2024). Suicidal ideation.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK565877/
Hawkins EM, et al. (2021). Effects of somatic treatments on suicidal ideation and completed suicides.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/brb3.2381
Li K, et al. (2022). Risk of suicidal behaviors and antidepressant exposure among children and adolescents: A meta-analysis of observational studies.https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.880496/full
Risk and protective factors for suicide. (2024).https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/risk-factors/index.html
Ross RE, et al. (2022). The role of exercise in the treatment of depression: biological underpinnings and clinical outcomes.https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01819-w
Turecki G, et al. (2019). Suicide and suicide risk.https://www.nature.com/articles/s41572-019-0121-0
Warning signs of suicide. (2025).https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/warning-signs-of-suicide
What is passive suicidal ideation? (n.d.).https://www.papyrus-uk.org/what-is-passive-suicidal-ideation/

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Medically reviewed by Bethany Juby, PsyD — Written by Traci Angel — Updated on June 30, 2025

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