Understanding Suicidal Ideations

Learn More About Teen Suicidal Ideations

The term suicidal ideation refers to having persistent thoughts about ending one’s life. Suicidal ideation itself is not a mental health disorder, but having ongoing or obsessive thoughts about killing oneself is often a symptom of a mental health disorder.

The sad reality of teen life is that fleeting thoughts of suicide may arise; however, when suicidal ideation becomes omnipresent, or when those thoughts involve detailed plans for actually ending one’s own life, the teen may be at significant risk and is in need of immediate professional help.

The teen years are times of significant physical, emotional, and social change. Many teenagers unfortunately have moments when they think about killing themselves because of external stresses and pressures, while others experience suicidal ideation due to the presence of mental health disorders, such as anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, depressive disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and many other forms of mental illness.

Suicidal ideation should never be ignored or viewed as merely a “teen phase” or an attempt to get attention. If the problem has resulted from an external cause, proper attention can protect the teen’s safety while he or she develops more effective stress-management or conflict-resolution skills. When suicidal ideation is symptomatic of a mental health disorder, getting effective professional treatment for the disorder can alleviate the teen’s suicidal thoughts and put him or her back on track for a healthier and safer future.

Statistics

Statistics of Teen Suicidal Ideations

Given the fact that many teens who think about suicide never voice or act upon their thoughts, it is impossible to accurately determine the prevalence of suicidal ideation among adolescents and teenagers in the United States. However, data related to teens who have attempted or completed suicide suggests that suicidal ideation among adolescents and teenagers is frighteningly prevalent.

According to The Jason Foundation, a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to eradicating youth suicide, suicide is the second leading cause of non-accidental death among adolescents ages 12 to 18. The Jason Foundation also reports that more than 5,000 adolescents and teens in grades 7 through 12 attempt suicide every day in the United States.

Causes & Risks

Causes and Risk Factors for Teen Suicidal Ideation

As is the case with many forms of self-defeating behaviors, an individual’s risk for suicidal ideation may be influenced by a variety of genetic and environmental factors, including the following:

Genetic: Suicidal ideation can be symptomatic of a mental health condition, many of which have strong genetic component. For example, teens whose parents struggle with depression have a significantly increased risk of also developing a depressive disorder, which can in raise the likelihood that they will experience suicidal ideation. Anxiety disorders and bipolar disorder are two other examples of heritable mental health disorders that may predispose a teen to experience suicidal ideation.

Environmental: Living in a dysfunctional environment can force a teenager to engage in a variety of maladaptive behaviors and can raise his or her risk for suicidal ideation. Being abused or neglected, living in poverty, being exposed to a wide range of additional short- and long-term trauma, and experiencing overwhelming stress or pressure can also increase the likelihood that a teenager will consider suicide.

Risk Factors:

Developing an anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, or depressive disorder
Being male (suicide is more common among teen boys than among teen girls)
Family history of mental illness
Being exposed to trauma
Being abused or otherwise physically assaulted
Suffering from neglect during childhood
Knowing someone who has committed suicide
Experiencing the death of a family member, close friend, or other significant individual

Signs & Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms of Teen Suicidal Ideation

Signs and symptoms of suicidal ideation may vary widely depending upon several personal factors. However, the following are common warning signs that may indicate that an adolescent or teenager is thinking about suicide:

Behavioral symptoms:

Talking and/or writing about death and dying
Expressing a sense of hopelessness
Participating in risky, reckless, or otherwise dangerous activities
Engaging in self-harm
Giving away prized belongings
Withdrawing and/or isolating oneself from family and friends
No longer participating in activities that were once important to the teen

Physical symptoms:

Sleep problems, including insomnia or hypersomnia
Persistent fatigue or exhaustion
Uncharacteristic bursts of energy
Drastic unintentional change in weight
Noticeable changes in physical appearance
Apparent neglect of physical hygiene
Heart palpitations, excessive perspiration, and other symptoms of panic attacks

Cognitive symptoms:

Problems with focus and/or concentration
Memory problems
Preoccupation with death and dying

Psychosocial symptoms:

Pervasive feelings of hopelessness
Diminished self-esteem and self-worth
Panic and/or anxiety
Dramatic mood swings
Loss of interest in significant activities

Effects

Effects of Teen Suicidal Ideation

Of course, the most significant negative outcome of suicidal ideation is that a teen will end his or her own life. However, continued untreated suicidal ideation, as well as suicide attempts that are not fatal, can also lead to a variety of additional detrimental physical, psychological, and social effects, including but not limited to the following:

Irreversible cognitive impairment
Permanent organ damage
Organ failure
Paralysis
Diminished academic performance
Strained and ruined interpersonal relationships
Injury due to reckless behaviors
Legal problems, including arrest and incarceration, related to reckless behaviors
Social withdrawal or ostracization

Co-Occurring Disorders

Co-Occurring Disorders & the Complexity of Teen Suicidal Ideation

As noted earlier on this page, suicidal ideation can be symptomatic of one or more mental health disorders, including but not limited to the following: