I Think About Suicide Often: Can You Help?

Thinking about suicide isn’t a normal stress reaction. Instead, it’s a sign of extreme distress and indicates that you need help. This is especially true if the thoughts are new or if you have them more frequently than usual.

At Hudson River Care & Counseling, our clinicians help you find a path to healing and good mental health. We offer a warm welcome and a caring environment where our experienced and highly trained clinicians use a variety of approaches suited to meet the needs of our patients who may be dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, or other mental health concerns.

Suicide is a public health concern, and a serious one. It ranks as the eleventh leading cause of death in the United States. It’s often preventable.

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

September is recognized as a time to remember those who have been lost to suicide and to acknowledge those who may be experiencing thoughts of suicide, as well as to care for the individuals, families, and communities affected by suicide. Along with all of that, it’s a month for raising awareness of suicide prevention.

The National Strategy for Suicide Prevention calls for a community-based suicide prevention program that centers on the lived experience of survivors. We support the strategy and seek to provide treatment to those having suicidal thoughts and support their families.

Warning signs

Sometimes, even if you’re the person having suicidal thoughts, you may not recognize them as problematic. Take a moment to consider whether any of these other signs are present:

Feelings of emptiness or hopelessness
A feeling of being trapped or as if there aren’t any solutions to your problems
Feeling like a burden
Unexplained, unbearable physical or emotional pain
An urge to give away your possessions
Withdrawing from people who care
Taking risks that could lead to death
Extreme mood swings
Feelings of guilt or shame
Using drugs or alcohol
Feelings of anxiousness or agitation
Significant changes in sleeping or eating habits

You should consider seeking treatment if you have any of these warning signs. If you are diagnosed with depression, have a substance use disorder, a history of suicide attempts, or a family history of suicide, you’re at an elevated risk.

A safety plan

Having a personal safety plan is very important. We can work with you to develop a plan that limits your access to things like firearms, lethal medications, and poisons. A safety plan also includes coping strategies and a list of resources to use when experiencing a crisis.

Psychotherapy

We offer a variety of therapies, including cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), which is one of the most effective forms of therapy available. It helps you learn to recognize thought patterns and to consider different actions when suicidal thoughts occur.

We also offer spiritual counseling aimed at helping you learn to overcome problematic patterns of behavior.

Medication

Your treatment is tailored to meet your needs and address your specific situation. For some people, appropriate treatment includes medication. We work closely with you to determine what medication or combination of medications is most likely to be successful for you.

Get help

Getting treatment can be the difference between life and death or recovery and continuing to feel worse. Thoughts about harming yourself are a sign that you need some help, and just as you’d get some help if you had a serious illness such as pneumonia or cancer, getting help when you have suicidal thoughts is the best way to recover.

Schedule your appointment at Hudson River Care & Counseling today. We welcome patients in person or virtually at our Hoboken and Teaneck offices.