It is very difficult to see a loved one become suicidal. It's especially scary when you don't know what to do. Probably two people have asked me about this lately. While there are many things you can do to help a suicidal person, the most important thing is to get them. professional help. Here's how to go about getting help and what help can help a suicidal loved one.

What does it mean when a loved one is suicidal?

Suicidal ideation can mean different things. It can mean that a person is depressed to the point of wanting to diesure, but it can also mean that a person is suffering obsessive thought patterns about suicide.

For example, when a person is depressed, it can be a sign of suicide. It can mean that a person feels like a burden to others and that the world would be better off without them. A depressed person may think that suicide is a logical action, considering his pains and their effects on others. This can lead to obsessive thoughts about suicide.

On the other hand, some people suffer from obsessive suicidal thoughts, even if they don't want to act. This can be suicidal visions or thoughts that appear without warning or provocation (intrusive thoughts). I found this Obsessive thought patterns are common in people with bipolar disorderbut others may have it.

Of course, no matter why your loved one is suicidal, they need help.

When a loved one is suicidal, make sure they are safe

The first priority in helping a loved one who is suicidal for any reason is to make sure they are safe and that they cannot or will not act on their obsessive thoughts. Many people focus on being a personal obstacle to their loved one's suicide. In other words, they do not leave people alone, they hide lethal means, etc. While I understand why this is the focus, people who are truly suicidal may need more help than that to keep them safe.

A suicidal person can be a danger to themselves no matter what they do, and in such cases, inpatient treatment should be considered. I understand that this is not something that everyone avoids, but it can be a critical part of the infrastructure of care. I was hospitalized because I committed suicide. It's not fun. But it kept me safe and that's what I needed at the time. Remember that it is better for the person you love to be alive and mad at you than not to be alive at all.

If your loved one is in danger, it is best to contact their doctor and arrange for inpatient treatment as soon as possible. However, this may not always be possible due to how quickly a person can become a danger to themselves. In such cases, call 9-8-8 or even 9-1-1 and call an ambulance if necessary. Believe me, I know how much fun it is. But still their safety is the most important thing.

Please understand that no matter how hard you try, sometimes you just can't keep your loved one safe without help. It doesn't make you a bad person. It makes you human.

When a loved one is suicidal, get them professional help

I wrote about it before How to help a suicidal person. This is a good whole to help someone in this situation. However, it does not go into detail about professional help for a suicidal loved one.

If your loved one is suicidal, they definitely need professional help. This is not a problem that you or they can solve alone. This is serious and can be fatal. To deal with this, you need to get help from specially trained people.

If Your Loved One Is Not Receiving Mental Health Care

If your loved one isn't already taking care of their mental health, they need it now. You should talk to your loved one's doctor about getting it for them. The doctor may choose to initiate treatment at that time (for example, prescribe an antidepressant if the person is diagnosed with depression) or refer your loved one to someone else, such as a psychiatrist, for appropriate treatment. Remember that when a mental health problem is severe, a GP is generally not qualified to treat it over the long term.

If Your Loved One Is Receiving Mental Health Care

If your loved one is being treated and is suicidal, their current treatment is clearly not working. After all, the first job of treatment is to keep you alive. This means that you need to provide medical care to your loved one (this means If your loved one has bipolar disorder, they should see a psychiatrist) is aware of the situation. This is the best way to do it attend your loved one's doctor's appointment. A suicidal person may not be as open as they should be without your help. It's hard to sit in front of a doctor and tell them how suicidal you are, but having a loved one there can make it easier.

It is important that the doctor knows how serious the problem is and has a treatment plan to deal with it immediately. You need to be 100% upfront about it. Don't mince words. Do not use euphemisms. Tell your loved one that they are at risk of killing themselves. Don't leave without a plan to deal with it.

If you can't make the appointment, perhaps because your loved one isn't up for it, you can still talk to their doctor about how suicidal your loved one is. In this case, the doctor won't be able to tell you anything about your loved one for privacy reasons, but they can still listen.

What treatments work for someone who is suicidal?

As I said earlier, inpatient treatment may be necessary if a person is suicidal. This is not an indication of someone's failure. It only shows that the person needs intensive help. If that's what it takes to help your loved one, then do it.

Note that many places will only detain a suicidal person for 72 hours. In my experience, if a person is severely depressed or experiencing other symptoms of severe mental illness, this is not enough time to stabilize the person. You may have to advocate strongly with doctors or insurance companies for additional inpatient treatment. It's possible that you and your loved one's doctor can work together to try and force longer treatments if insurance gets in the way (which they often do).

Another thing to be aware of is that lithium is the only mood medication with anti-suicide effects. (Clozapine has also been shown to be anti-suicidal, but it is not usually prescribed outside of schizophrenia.) Lithium is not without its risks and complications (including the risk of overdose), so its effects must be carefully considered.

Ketamine and esketamine (Sprovato) may have an immediate but small antisuicidality effect, but research is ongoing.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) It is often an option for someone whose life is at grave risk. Still, it's not an easy treatment to do, so you need to think carefully about the risks and benefits before going down this path.

More information on the above can be found here.

Psychotherapies can also help reduce suicidal thoughts. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) reduces suicide attempts, suicidal thoughts, and hopelessness. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBR) may also reduce suicidal ideation, but evidence is more limited.

You may be surprised to not see antidepressants listed. This may be because antidepressants increase the risk of suicide in young people in the short term, and the quality of evidence that they reduce it in the long term is low. That doesn't mean they don't work, but it does mean they may not be enough in the short term for someone who is suicidal.

If your loved one is likely to be suicidal, a multi-pronged approach is required.

If your loved one is suicidal, keep this in mind

If a loved one is suicidal, remember that the road to recovery can be long and bumpy. Suicidality doesn't happen overnight, and the danger it presents doesn't go away overnight. Be prepared to support your loved one for a long time.

For this reason, you may need your own support while helping your loved one. This is a good. It doesn't mean you are weak or inadequate. It just means you're dealing with something really difficult. Talking to others who have been there can help. Contact local mental health organizations National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) finding out about possible support options or looking into getting psychotherapy yourself. If you go through a crisis yourself, you cannot help them effectively.

Also, remember that there is nothing wrong with your loved one who is suicidal – there is a problem with their brain. Suicide is incredibly scary, and you may have no frame of reference for why it happened. The important thing to understand is that it happens to people sometimes, and you can help them through it.

Finally, remember that your loved one can get through this. If a loved one is suicidal today, it doesn't mean they will always be. People go through such crises. And they are starting from a good place because you have help.

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