Suicidal Ideation and Active Crisis: What to Watch For

When mental health struggles are left unchecked and you don't have any support, there is a risk of falling into suicidal ideation or thoughts of suicide. While it is possible to experience suicidal ideation without being in active crisis, it is important to note the signs for immediate and emergency intervention. When someone struggles with suicidal ideation, they may feel hopeless and lost. Treatment can help to mitigate these feelings and self-destructive behaviors. 

Many different mental health disorders can cause struggles with suicidal ideation. At West Coast Recovery Centers, we offer treatment for every individual to work through their mental health struggles and make a positive impact on their thoughts and feelings.

Even though someone can struggle with suicidal ideation and not be at immediate risk, it is important to note the changes someone might express as they change from ideation into an active crisis. There are things that you can watch out for in your peers or your thoughts to make an emergency intervention. When someone is in active crisis, emergency care is required to help them stay safe. In treatment, therapists and mental health workers can help someone gain a greater understanding of what triggers them, and help them learn to control their thoughts with safety plans and resources to stay connected to.

Understanding Suicidal Ideation

As stated by authors Harmer, Lee, Rizvi, & Saadabadi, suicidal ideation is “marked by thoughts of self-harm or ending one's life.” It is important to note that suicidal ideation can have grave consequences when it is ignored or an individual doesn't seek treatment. Sometimes people begin thinking about suicide as an option when their mental health has been difficult to manage for a long time. Having suicidal thoughts is not a representation of failure, but rather a symptom of a greater struggle. When someone has struggled with their mental health for a long time, they may feel the desire to give up or stop fighting. The most important time to get help is when these thoughts are happening. 

When someone struggles with suicidal ideation they may find themselves struggling with self-harming behaviors as well. Someone who struggles with suicidal thoughts may have a lower regard for their safety. When you struggle with self-harming behavior, it is important to reach out for help. People may struggle with suicidal ideation when they are experiencing high levels of stress in their lives. Sometimes these thoughts come from stress but often are tied together with other mental health disorders. 

Having these thoughts does not mean that all hope is lost but rather that therapy is needed to help alleviate the underlying struggles. Therapists can work with their clients to make a difference in their mental health. Lowering their overall level of stress and symptoms will keep the suicidal thoughts and worries at bay. It is important to monitor if someone goes from suicidal ideation into an active crisis. 

Active Crisis: What to Watch For

Being in active crisis is when someone is at direct risk of suicide or death caused by someone's actions. There are signs to watch out for when someone is going into an active crisis, and intervention is crucial when someone is going to attempt suicide. Even if someone avoids death, someone who attempts suicide may also end up disabling themselves or causing long-term damage to their mind and body. Understanding the risks posed to safety and things to watch out for will help you in making sure that you can stay safe.

Someone who is in active crisis has a plan to end their life or harm themselves. They may also not be able to keep themselves safe or from harming themselves. It is important to note that someone who is in active crisis may appear calm externally. Sometimes people who are at risk of suicide may also seem happier, and engage in behaviors like reaching out to loved ones. They may also start giving out their possessions and other things that they would not normally give up. All of these can be signs that their suicidal thinking has moved into a place of active crisis. 

Someone who is in active crisis needs immediate intervention, such as inpatient care. When someone has an active plan to end their life, it is imperative to get emergency treatment and help. Treatment can help to prevent someone from moving into an active crisis. 

Treating Suicidal Ideation

It is important to note that all mental health disorders require treatment when they get to the level of experiencing suicidal ideation. Treatment can give you the skills that you need to work through these struggles and connect you to necessary resources. In treatment at West Coast Recovery Centers, you can create a safety plan to rely on when the feelings happen. These plans include a list of safe people to rely on, resources you can call, and coping skills to use to calm down. 

Safety plans can be integral to your health. Treatment gives you the skills to manage your thoughts and work through the difficulty of suicidal feelings. When you are dealing with suicidal thoughts, it is important to realize that you are not alone. 

Many different mental health disorders can cause people to experience feelings of suicidal ideation. When someone struggles with suicidal ideation, it does not mean that they are failing. It is important to get treatment to learn the best ways to manage these feelings. Treatment can work with you to give you the skills you need to stay safe and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Creating a safety plan and working with resources that can help you with your suicidal thoughts is important to long-term mental well-being. If suicidal ideation moves into active crisis, you need to find emergency care. To learn more about suicidal ideation and managing these thoughts, call West Coast Recovery Centers at (760) 492-6509.