Semantics: suicidality vs suicidal ideation

[UpOnDown]

What's the difference between the two, or do they mean the same thing?

I've heard suicidal intent vs suicidal ideation. My understanding of it is the first is having a plan and an intention to carry it out. The second is more about thoughts - potentially unwanted, intrusive ones - but without such a concrete plan, timeframe etc.

Certainly I experience periods of suicidal ideation without actively wanting to kill myself.

You okay?

I think suicidality means you're at actual risk of killing yourself whereas suicidal ideation means you fantasise about it but aren't at immediate risk of attempting.
I could be talking shite, though. Happy to be corrected.

Yes ive experienced ideation. It's more like 'if I were to do it, this is what I'd do...' sort of musing rather than planning, however it can still be quite intrusive and dark.

I experience sucidal ideation a lot. I think a lot about how I would do it but don’t actually make a plan to follow it through. There is less of a risk of death with ideation but it’s still just as distressing.

Suicidal ideation could be 'sometimes I think it would better if I was dead'.

Suicidality is usually an escalating series of self harm or suicidal ideation with a plan and intent.

Thanks all, that makes sense. I've just been reading through the overview assessment the social worker has done for my care assessment. I'm not in a good place, and reading through the history my CPN wrote onto the form has made things worse (detail of historical abuse).

That sounds really tough.

I know sometimes when I have read back through CPN/psychologist/therapist notes I have felt quite triggered by a lot of the terminology. Especially sometimes when I disagree with what they were seeing - sometimes they have overreacted and sometimes underreacted and both feel awful!!

Do you have anyone you can talk to about it?

I say I don’t want copies of the notes. It cuts down the stress!

Unfortunately I have to comment on these for accuracy.

And nobody I can talk about it with really, nobody knows.

Do you have a therapist? If not, now might be the time to try and find someone.

The Samaritans are great. Also, there are some specific helplines for victims of childhood abuse. Google might be your friend.

If talking to someone would help, please pm me xx