Suicidal ideation, or suicidal thoughts, means having thoughts, ideas, or ruminations about the possibility of ending ones own life. It is not a diagnosis but is a symptom of some mental disorders and can also occur in response to adverse events without the presence of a mental disorder.On suicide risk scales, the range of suicidal ideation varies from fleeting thoughts to detailed planning. Passive suicidal ideation is thinking about not wanting to live or imagining being dead. Active suicidal ideation is thinking about different ways to die or forming a plan to die.Most people who have suicidal thoughts do not go on to make suicide attempts, but suicidal thoughts are considered a risk factor. During 2008–09, an estimated 8.3 million adults aged 18 and over in the United States, or 3.7% of the adult U.S. population, reported having suicidal thoughts in the previous year, while an estimated 2.2 million reported having made suicide plans in the previous year. In 2019, 12 million U.S. adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.5 million planned a suicide attempt, 1.4 million attempted suicide, and more than 47,500 died by suicide. Suicidal thoughts are also common among teenagers.Suicidal ideation is associated with depression and other mood disorders; however, many other mental disorders, life events, and family events, can increase the risk of suicidal ideation. Mental health researchers indicate that healthcare systems should provide treatment for individuals with suicidal ideation, regardless of diagnosis, because of the risk for suicidal acts and repeated problems associated with suicidal thoughts.
The life events that have been shown to increase risk most significantly are
Alcohol use disorder
Studies have shown that individuals who binge drink, rather than drink socially, tend to have higher rates of suicidal ideation
Certain studies associate those who experience suicidal ideation with higher alcohol consumption
Not only do some studies show that solitary binge drinking can increase suicidal ideation, but there is a positive feedback relationship causing those who have more suicidal ideation to have more drinks per day in a solitary environment
Minoritized gender expression and/or sexuality
Unemployment
Chronic illness or pain
Death of family members or friends
End of a relationship or being rejected by a romantic interest
Major change in life standard (e.g. relocation abroad)
Other studies have found that tobacco use is correlated with depression and suicidal ideation
Unplanned pregnancy
Bullying, including cyberbullying and workplace bullying
Previous suicide attempts
Having previously attempted suicide is one of the strongest indicators of future suicidal ideation or suicide attempts
Military experience
Military personnel who show symptoms of PTSD, major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder show higher levels of suicidal ideation
Community violence
Undesired changes in body weightWomen: increased BMI increases chance of suicidal ideation
Men: severe decrease in BMI increases chance of suicidal ideation
In general, the obese population has increased odds of suicidal ideation in relation to individuals that are of average-weight
Exposure and attention to suicide related images or words

Family history
Parents with a history of depression
Valenstein et al. studied 340 adult offspring whose parents had depression in the past.