By Marta Manning, Ph.D.-NAMI | Sep. 06, 2017
I’ll never forget my mother two days after her suicide
attempt. It was the beginning of winter and she had recently been diagnosed
with bipolar
disorder. After a stay in the ICU and two days of medication, she
was just regaining some clarity when I spoke to her. She knew there was still a
long road ahead, but at that moment, she was grateful to the people who saved
her. She no longer understood why she wanted to take her life.
Several months before her attempt, my mother had shown many
of the risk factors for suicide. I was 17 at the time, just starting college,
and it felt as if the world was falling apart when her undiagnosed symptoms
worsened: She developed various paranoid delusions that terrified her, her
driving and spending became increasingly reckless, as did her uncontrollable
rage. Later, she would tell us that she had thought about suicide for many
months. She likened depression to being trapped inside a burning building.
With no earlier experience with mental illness or plan for
how to handle psychiatric emergencies, our family had no idea what to do or
where to turn. We didn’t know that suicidal thinking is usually an
emergency that requires immediate treatment. If my mother had
received care when her suicidal thinking first started, we could have averted a
possible tragedy.
What Causes Suicidality?
Myths about suicide prevail despite advances in our
understanding of mental illness. Many people see a suicide attempt as an
intentional act or a destructive, conscious decision made by a rational
evaluation of one’s options. But actually: Suicidal ideation is a symptom of
mental illness. In fact: 90% of
suicides are completed by people who live with mental illness. People
experiencing depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective
disorder and borderline personality disorder experience suicide rates as high
as 15-20%,
although the risk varies depending on diagnosis.
Research suggests
that suicidal behavior may be a reaction to the imbalance of various
neurotransmitters, including serotonin, which leads to altered
thinking patterns. In some cases, psychotic delusions can
cause suicide attempts, as people seek escape from paranoia and frightening
visions.
When we try to rationalize a person’s suicide—such as the
tragic deaths of brilliant and successful people like Chris Cornell, Robin
Williams and Chester Bennington—it often doesn’t make sense. But the truth is,
mental illness doesn’t have to make sense. So instead of picking apart the
reasons for suicide, we need to tackle its root cause: mental illness.
Seek Help When You Need It
The good news is mental illness can be treated and managed
through a combination of medication, therapy and lifestyle changes. This means:
Suicide is preventable through diagnosis and treatment. And a person
experiencing suicidal ideation has the power to be their own first line of
defense because most people are aware when they are having
thoughts of suicide. And because you can recognize that you’re experiencing
suicidal thoughts, you have a chance to save a life. The life of a very
important person: you!
So, try to be aware of your thought patterns as they happen.
It can be helpful to keep a journal so you can track any thoughts that seem out
of character for you, are frightening or lead to impulses like self-harm. In
the journal, include any relevant factors that could affect your thinking at
the time. For example, alcohol, substance use, stress or lack-of-sleep can all
serve as triggers for mental illness symptoms.
If you start having suicidal thoughts, make an appointment
with your doctor and honestly tell them what’s going on. Communication is key
when seeking help for suicidal ideation and impulses. Treat this symptom as you
would anything else—like heart pain, bleeding or fainting.
You can also seek help from family members or friends.
Again, be direct in communicating with them about your situation, as many
people are poorly informed about mental illness and suicide. Simply stating
exactly what you need can be very helpful.
When you’re in crisis, it’s too easy to make a rash
decision. If you have a diagnosed mental illness, please make a pact with
yourself to reach out if you ever have serious thoughts of suicide. Haven’t you
ever dreamed of saving someone’s life?
Now is your chance.
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