Suicidal Thoughts
- Suicidal Thoughts Overview
- Suicidal Thoughts Causes
- Suicidal Thoughts Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Suicidal Thoughts Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Support Groups and Counseling
- For More Information
- Web Links
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Related signs of suicide articles:
Signs of suicide - on WebMD
Signs of suicide - on MedicineNet
Suicidal Thoughts Overview
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, call 1-800-SUICIDE.
Suicidal thoughts are troubling, especially when accompanied by depression, other mental illnesses, alcohol or drug abuse, or plans for suicide. This situation demands immediate evaluation. These thoughts can indicate serious illness.
The critical distinction is between a person's thoughts regarding death and suicide, and actually wanting to die. When doctors hear that someone wants to die, they refer to these thoughts as suicidal ideation and divide them into 2 categories.
- Suicidal ideation can be active and involve a current
desire and plan to die.
- Suicidal ideation can be passive, involving a desire to die but without a plan to bring about one's death.
If a person has an actual desire to die (in either form of suicidal ideation), he or she must seek immediate medical attention.
Next: Suicidal Thoughts Causes »
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From WebMD
Suicidal Thoughts
Depression Overview
Throughout the course of our lives, we all experience episodes of stress, unhappiness, sadness, or grief. Often, when a loved one dies or we suffer a personal tragedy or difficulty such as divorce, loss of a job, or death of a loved one, we may feel depressed (some people call this "the blues"). Most of us are able to cope with these and other types of stressful events.
Over a period of days or weeks, the majority of us are able to return to our normal activities. But when these feelings of sadness and other symptoms make it hard for us to get through the day, and when the symptoms last for more than a couple of weeks, we may have what is called "clinical depression." The term clinical depression is usually used to distinguish the "true" illness of depression from less difficult sadness or the blues.
Clinical depression is not just grief or feeling sad. It is an illness that can challenge your ability to perform even routine dail...
Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine
Suicide »
Suicide ranks as the eleventh leading cause of death in the United States.
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