Suicidal ideation is isolating. People with suicidal ideation often constantly battle thoughts about death and dying. Managing these feelings alone is tough, and it becomes an even heavier burden when we don’t discuss them. Society doesn’t teach us to openly talk about suicidal ideation. Yet locking away these thoughts only deepens the loneliness and pain.

The truth is, suicidal ideation is more common than we think. Yet it doesn’t have to be something we carry alone. Rather than seeing these thoughts as something to be ashamed of, we can begin to recognize them as a signal that something in our lives needs an immediate change. It’s a call for help, an invitation to reach out, and an opportunity to reclaim our lives with the right support.

In this blog we’re going to help you see suicidal ideation in a different way: as a way of crying out for care – a cry that needs to be expressed. We’ll talk about what suicidal ideation really is, why it’s important to talk about it, and how therapy can help you navigate these thoughts with compassion and hope.

What Is Suicidal Ideation?

Suicidal ideation is when you are experiencing intrusive thoughts about wanting to die. Suicidal ideation can range in intensity and look different for everyone. For example, you might feel like you don’t want to be alive but you have no concrete plan for actually making that happen. Or you might have very active suicide ideation with a detailed plan as to when, where, and how you will act on the idea. Having thoughts about wanting to die often doesn’t mean you actually want to die. Rather it’s a sign that something is wrong in your life that needs to change.

“I’m so afraid to talk about suicidal thoughts”

There are a lot of fears around sharing these thoughts with other people. You fear that someone will misunderstand you or escalate the issue to the police. You’re worried that expressing yourself might worsen the situation instead of improving it.

One of our therapists Dr. Jeff Chan puts it this way:

“Thoughts of ending your life can feel overwhelming and frightening. It’s common to worry that others might judge you or that having these thoughts means something is deeply wrong. But it’s important to know that suicidal thoughts are often a symptom of intense pain, not necessarily a desire to die.

Most of the time, we don’t want to end our lives—we just want the pain to stop, and it feels like there’s no other way out. Talking about these thoughts, especially with someone who cares, can help take away some of their power and open the door to finding ways to heal the pain at the root of it all. We’re here to help figure that out together.”

What To Do If You’re Experiencing Suicidal Ideation

• Seek support from a friend or family member: The first step to take is to let someone know. You can start by sending a text to a trusted loved one, saying something like: “This is really hard for me to say but I’m having painful thoughts and it might help to talk. Are you free?” This is a vulnerable step. Yet it is important for the people in your life to know how you are feeling inside.
• Contact a Therapist: Reaching out to a therapist and setting up an appointment can provide you a sense of hope knowing that you have something on your calendar that will help. Therapy is a safe place to talk openly and freely about what you have been feeling.
• Call or text the Suicide Crisis Line: Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you’re not sure who to tell yet, you can start by talking to the lifeline number to find support and safety there.

Consider making a plan of who you can talk to when suicidal ideation feels overwhelming.

When you get the right care for suicidal ideation, everything changes

Suicidal ideation is a signal that something in your life needs to change, and with the right support, you can begin to make those changes. By breaking the silence and reaching out for help, you’re taking the first step towards healing.

As Dr. Connor McClenahan explains,

“When we talk about suicide ideation, we begin to experience safety and hope. There are many people like you who experience this, and when we can talk about it—that’s when we find healing.”

Healing starts with a conversation. When the cry is only internal, it can feel chaotic and overwhelming. By sharing your thoughts with a safe person, you open the door to new possibilities. You begin forging a path forward that’s defined by hope, not pain.