If you often have thoughts of killing yourself or wishing you were dead, you are not alone: in the United States each year, an estimated 10 million adults and 2 million adolescents seriously consider suicide. However, less than 1% of this group die by suicide, and by seeking help, you’re already on the way to putting safety measures in place for the part of you that wants to keep living. Here’s a few things to know about what treatment looks like.
No matter what your story, you will not be judged.
There’s a lot of taboo when it comes to suicide, and people often fear that talking about it will “put the idea in someone’s head” or somehow make the thoughts worse. You may have encountered people like this in your family or community. However, research has shown that these fears are not helpful and ignoring the issue may actually cause harm in some cases.
Instead, any therapist trained in suicide prevention and intervention will want to understand how things came to this point for you. They may have a few questions that seem rather direct, but knowing the full scope of what you’re going through is important for them to help you as much as possible. Additionally, many people report feeling “relieved” that they have someone to confide their secret in.
Even people with serious suicidal thoughts usually do not need to be hospitalized.
It’s common for people to worry that if they disclose suicidal thoughts, their therapist will have them admitted to a psych hospital. However, hospitalization is rare and viewed by most therapists as a last resort - only people with a specific plan that they intend to carry out very soon are deemed to be at high enough risk. People generally benefit from being treated in the least restrictive environment possible, so even those with suicidal thoughts multiple times a day are typically fine to stay in outpatient.
You will not be asked to sign a contract promising not to kill yourself.
While these were in popular use for decades, most experts now discourage therapists from using no-suicide contracts because they do not work. The option of suicide is always there - nobody can watch you 24/7 to make sure you stay alive and the shame of breaking a promise only tends to add to the pain.
That said, a good therapist will want to explore how you have stayed alive despite everything you’ve been through. These reasons often make their way into your safety plan - which can include specific people to contact, specific places to go, or specific activities to do. Rather than a promise or a contract, a safety plan gives you concrete steps to take the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by suicidal thoughts and can also give you ways to intervene before they get out of control.
Again, if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, it’s much more common than you might have thought.
Please reach out today for a free consultation so we can find a therapist that is the right fit for you.
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