There are a number of treatment options for people who experience suicidal ideation. Definitions
The ICD-11 describes suicidal ideation as "thoughts, ideas, or ruminations about the possibility of ending ones life, ranging from thinking that one would be better off dead to formulation of elaborate plans".The DSM-5 defines it as "thoughts  about  self-harm, with deliberate consideration or planning of possible techniques of causing ones own death".The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines suicidal ideation "as thinking about, considering, or planning suicide". Terminology
Another term for suicidal ideation is suicidal thoughts.When someone who has not shown a history of suicidal ideation experiences a sudden and pronounced thought of performing an act which would necessarily lead to their own death, psychologists call this an intrusive thought. A commonly experienced example of this is the high place phenomenon, also referred to as the call of the void.Euphemisms related to mortal contemplation include internal struggle, voluntary death, and eating ones gun. Risk factors
The risk factors for suicidal ideation can be divided into three categories: psychiatric disorders, life events, and family history. Psychiatric disorders
Suicidal ideation is a symptom for many mental disorders and can occur in response to adverse life events without the presence of a mental disorder.There are several psychiatric disorders that appear to be comorbid with suicidal ideation or considerably increase the risk of suicidal ideation. For example, many individuals with borderline personality disorder exhibit recurrent suicidal behavior and suicidal thoughts.
Prevention
Early detection and treatment are the best ways to prevent suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. If signs, symptoms, or risk factors are detected early then the individual might seek treatment and help before attempting to take their own life. In a study of individuals who did commit suicide, 91% of them likely had one or more mental illnesses. However, only 35% of those individuals were treated or being treated for a mental illness. This emphasizes the importance of early detection; if a mental illness is detected, it can be treated and controlled to help prevent suicide attempts. Another study investigated strictly suicidal ideation in adolescents. This study found that depression symptoms in adolescents early as 9th grade is a predictor of suicidal ideation. Most people with long-term suicidal ideation do not seek professional help.The previously mentioned studies point out the difficulty that mental health professionals have in motivating individuals to seek and continue treatment. Ways to increase the number of individuals who seek treatment may include:

Increasing the availability of therapy treatment in early stage
Increasing the publics knowledge on when psychiatric help may be beneficial to them
Those who have adverse life conditions seem to have just as much risk of suicide as those with mental illnessA study conducted by researchers in Australia set out to determine a course of early detection for suicidal ideation in teens stating that "risks associated with suicidality require an immediate focus on diminishing self-harming cognitions so as to ensure safety before attending to the underlying etiology of the behavior".