How Therapy Can Help: Understanding and Managing Suicidal Thoughts

Recipe

6 Sep

125 people die by suicide every week in the UK. That’s 18 people a day.

In 2024, September marks Suicide Prevention Month, a month in which organisations and communities around the world come together to create a world where fewer people die by suicide.

Suicidal thoughts can be an overwhelming and isolating experience, often leaving people feeling trapped and hopeless. However, it’s important to know that you don’t have to face these thoughts alone. Therapy provides a safe, supportive space where you can explore your feelings, understand what triggers these thoughts, and develop effective strategies to cope and find hope. In this post, we’ll explore what suicidal thoughts are, what experiences may be triggering these thoughts, and how therapy can be a powerful tool to navigate these difficult emotions and find a path toward healing.

What are suicidal thoughts?

Suicidal thoughts, also known as suicidal ideation, are persistent or recurring thoughts about ending one's life, often driven by overwhelming emotional pain, despair, or feelings of hopelessness. Anyone can experience suicidal thoughts, and they may range in intensity and duration – for some, these thoughts might be fleeting, while for others they may be accompanied by a plan to end one’s life.

SUICide and gender

Suicide remains the leading cause of death for men under 50 in the UK, and alarmingly, the suicide rate among women under 24 has shown the steepest increase since records began.

Research by Samaritans highlights a range of factors contributing to the increased risk of suicide in middle-aged men. These include exclusion from a rapidly changing labour market, evolving cultural expectations around masculinity, relationship breakdowns and a growing sense of social disconnection. On top of that, men tend to feel lonelier than women and have fewer meaningful connections; their social networks can also be less supportive.

Many men who have experienced suicidal thoughts also describe adverse early life experiences such as childhood trauma, family breakdown, substance misuse, and bullying. These early disruptions often carry into adulthood, impacting their ability to form and maintain meaningful relationships.

Further complicating matters, societal pressures around traditional male roles — such as the expectations of being a provider, father, or partner — can lead to feelings of failure and self-blame. Men often struggle with the tension between wanting to appear self-sufficient and not wanting to be a burden vs wanting to feel valued and supported. This conflict is compounded by the societal constraints of masculinity, which discourage vulnerability and opening up about emotional struggles. The lack of employment or financial insecurity can further undermine men’s sense of identity as providers, intensifying feelings of despair.

The rise in suicide rates among young women is attributed to a combination of factors, including increasing mental health challenges like anxiety and depression, heightened social pressures, and the negative impact of social media on body image and self-esteem. Gender-based violence, abuse, and societal expectations also play a significant role in contributing to feelings of hopelessness. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these issues by amplifying stress, isolation, and disrupting support networks. Many young women have also struggled with financial insecurity, adding to their sense of loneliness and isolation.

why might someone be feeling suicidal?

Suicide ideation often stems from various factors related to disadvantage, such as:

Early life trauma and loss – including witnessing domestic violence and experiencing childhood sexual abuse;
Experiencing negative life events, especially those involving loss, such as a bereavement or the end of a relationship;

Socioeconomic disadvantage – including low income, unmanageable debt, poor housing conditions or homelessness, lack of educational qualifications, and/or unemployment;

Social isolation, loneliness, poor social support or other features of social exclusion, such as poverty or marginalisation, which can contribute to feelings of powerlessness;
Experience of being bullied or rejected and feeling low or worthless;
Having someone close to you who attempted to take their own life, or died by suicide;
Challenges related to personal identity – such as struggles with sexuality or gender identity – can be particularly difficult, especially when compounded by feelings of marginalisation or exclusion;
Drinking or using drugs heavily, which might be a way of coping with multiple negative life events.

People who experience suicidal thoughts often want to end their life to be free of emotional or physical pain, to put an end to a difficult situation or feelings, to regain a sense of agency when everything else feels out of control, or to relieve someone of a perceived burden. Sometimes, in the heat of the moment, life can feel hopeless.