Suicidal ideation
Suicidal ideation consists of thoughts about ending one’s own life, from passive wishes not to live to active thoughts involving plans or intent.
Passive suicidal ideation: A wish to be dead or not wake up, without thoughts of taking steps to cause one’s death. It is one end of the spectrum, distinct from thoughts about acting.
Suicide risk assessment: A clinical evaluation of factors associated with a person’s likelihood of suicidal behavior. It examines ideation alongside intent, planning, history, and current circumstances.
Major depressive disorder: A mood disorder marked by persistent depressed mood or loss of interest and other symptoms that impair functioning. Suicidal thoughts can occur during depressive episodes, though they are not exclusive to depression.
Crisis hotline: A telephone or text service offering immediate support to people experiencing emotional distress or suicidal crisis. Crisis services provide real-time support when suicidal thoughts feel difficult to manage alone.
Suicide prediction: The effort to estimate future suicidal behavior using clinical, behavioral, or statistical information. Ideation matters to prediction, but no single assessment reliably determines an individual outcome.
Active suicidal ideation: Thoughts of deliberately ending one’s own life, which may or may not include a plan or intent. It distinguishes thoughts of self-directed action from passive wishes to die.
Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale: A structured instrument for assessing suicidal thoughts and behaviors across levels of severity. Its questions distinguish passive wishes, active thoughts, planning, intent, and behavior.
Bipolar disorder: A mood disorder involving episodes of depression and mania or hypomania. Suicidal ideation can arise during depressive or mixed mood episodes.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: A United States crisis service reachable by calling or texting 988, or using its online chat. It is a specific U.S. resource for urgent emotional distress and suicidal crisis.
Suicide risk factors: Characteristics or circumstances statistically associated with increased likelihood of suicidal behavior. Risk factors inform assessment but cannot explain or predict every person’s suicidal thoughts.