How often do you think of suicide?

[Mermaidwithoutacause]

I was talking to a friend about how someone we knew had sadly tried to kill themselves and she said it had never crossed her mind once, in her entire life to do so, even in really difficult times.

I think about it a lot. I assumed everyone did. I know how. I know what preparations I’d make. It’s often in my mind.

Is this not the norm? I’m genuinely asking here. I assumed everyone gave this some thought.

Great post @Butterer

I made a plan when I was having a psychotic episode. Now the thoughts appear from time to time but they are more of the intrusive thoughts rather than anything else. I am in therapy and it helps a lot.
Please seek help OP.

There could be a physiological/chemical component to suicidal ideation.

I was poisoned a couple of years ago and it was a side effect. It was not a decision I was making. It was chemically induced by a neurotoxin.

All the time. Is it not normal?

No, I never think about ending my life.

I'm sorry that you think about it often, OP. You can get help with these feelings - please talk to someone, whether it is a friend, family member or your GP.

Never and i have had some bad times.

Please get some help OP

@Mermaidwithoutacause

I have an effective plan. It would work. I think about what I will need to get in order first. I think about it a lot. It’s on my mind most of the time.

🌷it's not a healthy way to think. Would you consider getting some help?

Suicidal ideation is pretty common, it can be a coping mechanism or comfort through difficult events. The key is to distinguish it from an immediate plan to end your life, which is a medical emergency.

Because mental health services are so under resourced, suicidal ideation will not raise many concerns at all. You might get a few sessions of CBT.

Never

Sometimes when depression is bad and I'm feeling despondent.
No, it isn't normal. I know I have long term depression and it goes along with that. I'm good at keeping up with meds and doctor.

So yeah if you have these thoughts, it's a good idea to seek help.

Never, even at the worst.

I often think about it but I know deep down I would never do it as I cant imagine leaving my son partner/ family

I had a friend who commit suicide 10 month ago leaving two children behind and recently lost another friend to suicide and she left 2 children the thought of them children never seeing their mother again is heartbreaking. When a child is hurt upset unwell etc the first person they usually ask for is mummy.

I think if it's getting to the point your getting these thoughts alot I suggest speaking to someone about how you feel

Crisis team or even Text SHOUT they are fantastic and have helped me so many times before

All the time.

I don't know what help posters think is out there.

No, I have had some awful times and have thought "oh to curl up in a ball and die", which I think is normal ish? But never thought about killing myself, although...
I have had some odd impulsive thoughts in my late teens early 20's of what if I didn't steer round this bend/steered into an oncoming truck/into a brick wall, which were clearly insanity moments and I am certain I would never have done so. Not because I was particularly unhappy or having a hard time either, I don't think that was normal.

Every day

Pretty often. Although not with any intent or thoughts of actually doing it. Its sort of more a what if thing. I thought it was normal until I said to friends does anyone ever think about drowning in the bath or driving into a wall and all but one thought I was insane. That one said it falls under intrusive thoughts and is actually quite common to have passing dark thoughts like that. However if it crosses your mind to actually go through with it then please seek help

I think about it quite often.

Hello OP, we are really sorry to hear that you might feel this way.

We hope you don't mind, but when these threads are flagged up to us we usually add a link to our Mental Health resources. You can also go to the Samaritans website or email them on [email protected].

Support from other Mumsnetters is great and we really hope you will be able to take some comfort from your fellow posters, but as other MNers will tell you, it's really a good idea to seek RL help and support as well.

We also like to remind everyone that, although we're awed daily by the astonishing support our members give each other through life's trickier twists and turns, we'd always caution anyone never to give more of themselves to another poster, emotionally or financially, than they can afford to spare.

We are going to move this thread to the Mental Health section shortly.

Frequently over the years. Have weighed up in my mind in what seems to be a logical way - as in , is this the lesser evil?
Usually when something in my life is making me miserable , and seems out of my control.
That’s the point I realise I have to talk about it & make a change.
Is there a change you can make OP? 💐

Quite often really, couple of times a month? This is good for me though, as it was many times a day for years. I consider it to not be a problem so long as it doesn't move from ideation to active planning.

I've had this conversation IRL a few times. It seemed to be an even split between never and 'I do that', with 'I do that' then split from a couple of times across a life, to every few days. I think suicidal ideation is probably more common than you'd expect, just for most people is an occasional, rather than often, thing.

No never.

In the last year I’ve known two people commit suicide, I can’t imagine feeling that way so much that you would want to die. One of them had children and the thought of how it would effect the children long term is just beyond awful. My heart breaks for them.

Equally as a nurse I’ve seen failed suicide attempts where patients have been left permanently brain damaged. That’s horrific, I can’t tell you.

OP, please access some help.

Erm... OP, if you are thinking about it a lot, you need some help. When you're in therapy, they give you forms to fill in (the forms are probably online, someone might post links ) asking you how often you've thought of suicide in the last fortnight. When I got to 'Not for a month or so', I was out of therapy in a whisker. I had one suicidal thought this week, after weeks without. This is from being someone with constant suicidal ideation.

I don't want to start a stampede for mh services... but posters above, you need help, talking can work, please get help now.

Honestly?

I have fantasised about it at times in my life. I don’t think I’d ever actually do it and I’ve never made a plan or anything like that but at my toughest times I have wondered how it must feel if you jump off a building and know it’s all over, that relief.

In reality though I don’t think I’d ever actually do, it’s just some fantasy that I’ve had at my worst times.