Suicidal ideation and self-harm are serious issues that need to be addressed immediately.
If you’re struggling with urges to hurt yourself or end your life, you need to know that there’s hope for you and that professional help can change your life and help you heal.
At This Way Out, we offer comprehensive self-harm and suicidal ideation treatment for anyone struggling. Read below to learn all about treatment of self harm and suicidal ideation and how treatment can make a lasting positive impact on your life.
Understanding The Difference Between Self Harm and Suicidal Ideation
Before learning more about our treatment plan for suicidal ideation and self-harm, it’s important to first distinguish these two issues from each other.
What is Self-Harm?
Self-harm is any form of deliberate self-inflicted injury. People sometimes self-harm to experience physical pain instead of emotional pain, bringing the physical hurt to the forefront and quieting any emotional turmoil going on inside. While this self-destructive coping mechanism can be tempting when you’re walking through a dark time, it’s extremely dangerous behavior that doesn’t help in the way it promises.
Hurting yourself can pose serious risks to your physical and emotional health. However, this behavior can also be addictive, as it often provides a sense of temporary relief from emotional pain. It’s vital to seek professional treatment for self-harm and find new, constructive outlets for the pain you feel.
What is Suicidal Ideation?
Suicidal ideation refers to thoughts of taking your own life. While you may feel alone with your thoughts of suicide, millions of people struggle with the same thoughts, and professional treatment is available to help you find the hope you need.
Suicidal ideation often stems from the following factors in a person’s life:
- Experiencing a lack of hope for the future and a sense that one’s life is ruined
- A sense of facing an impossible struggle
- A family history of suicide
- A side effect of certain prescription medications
Regardless of why you experience suicidal ideation, seeking treatment should be your number-one priority. Even if you don’t feel a sense of hope in the moment, there is hope for you. At This Way Out, we use a comprehensive treatment plan for suicidal ideation to help struggling individuals recover their hope and motivation to live.
Common Risk Factors For Suicidal Ideation and Self-Harm
Suicidal thoughts can stem from a variety of factors, but these thoughts are often borne out of extremely difficult circumstances. Dealing with loss and grief can sometimes lead a person to contemplate suicide, as can deep feelings of guilt and shame. Remember that when you feel these feelings, suicide is never the right option or the only option. There are always other paths you can take that lead back to hope.
In some cases, suicidal ideation can occur as a side effect of a medication. If you suspect that a medication that you take is impacting your mental health negatively, talk to your psychiatrist right away.
Self-harming typically has similar causes. However, self-harming behavior often stems from shame. If you feel ashamed of something you’ve experienced or done, you may feel tempted to hurt yourself as a form of punishment. Like suicide, self-harm is never the right option or the only option.
Warning Signs of Self-Harm & Suicidal Ideation
The primary warning signs of suicidal ideation are:
- If a person talks openly about wanting to hurt themselves or take their own life, that person is in a crisis and needs professional intervention.
- If a person is dealing with pain that they feel is unbearable, this may be a warning sign that suicidal ideation may become a risk.
- If a person increases their use of substances like alcohol or drugs, it may be indicative that their risk of suicidal ideation could increase.
- If a person withdraws from family, friends, hobbies, and activities, showing a lack of interest in life overall, it may indicate that their risk of suicidal ideation has increased.
The signs of self-harm include:
- Visible cuts, scars, burn marks, or other signs of an injury
- Wearing long-sleeved clothes to cover injured areas
- Spending extended periods of time alone
- Damage to hair and nails, in some cases
Our Treatment Options for Suicidal Ideation and Self-Harm
At This Way Out, we offer comprehensive treatment for suicidal ideation and self-harm. Our inpatient treatment includes regular therapy sessions and professional support from our team to help you recover in a safe, stable environment.
What to Expect From Our Treatment Plans For Suicidal Ideation & Self-Harm
When you get treatment for self-harming or suicidal ideation from This Way Out, you can expect to feel cared for throughout the whole process. You can also count on us to provide you with the highest quality of treatment, using evidence-based methods to help you break free from depression.
What To Do If Someone You Know Is Self-Harming or Has Suicidal Thoughts
If a someone you care about lets you know that they are dealing with self-harm or suicidal thoughts but not in a crisis situation, the best thing you can do is engage in a compassionate conversation with them. If you can, offer support and ask questions that help you get a clearer sense whether the situation is an emergency.
If your loved one is resistant to the idea of getting treatment, it can be helpful to gently make a case for getting help and that treatment can make a real difference.
If you have a loved one who is self-harming or dealing with suicidal ideation and is in a life-threatening crisis, it’s important to contact healthcare professionals right away. If you sense that it’s an emergency, contact emergency services as soon as possible to keep your loved one safe.
Why Choose Us
At This Way Out, we’re set apart by our compassionate approach to mental health treatment. Our team of caring professionals can provide you with effective treatment while helping you feel valued, safe, and supported.
Get Help For Suicidal Ideation and Self-Harm Today
If you need help for suicidal ideation and self-harm, we’re here for you. Contact This Way Out today to find out more about our treatment options and what we can do to help you come out of the darkness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Self Harm and Suicidal Ideation
What are the most effective treatments for self-harm and suicidal ideation?
Our treatment plan for suicidal ideation and self-harm makes use of evidence-based treatment methods, such as therapy and, in some cases, medication. Therapy methods like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are considered some of the most effective treatments for self-harm and suicidal ideation.
However, self harm treatment and suicidal ideation treatment may also include alternative methods, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation or ketamine infusions. In addition, lifestyle changes, such as adjusting sleep, diet, and exercise regimens, are often part of treatment as well.
Is medication a necessary part of treatment for self-harm and suicidal ideation?
Treatment of suicidal ideation and self-harm often includes prescription medication. Antidepressants are very effective in treating depression in many cases.
However, there are forms of therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and more that are also often very effective in treating self-harm and suicidal ideation. Medication is not the only option, but it is one of the several treatments considered to be highly effective for self-harm and suicidal ideation.
It’s important to note that medications for self-harm and suicidal ideation can sometimes cause side effects. Make sure to always take any medication as instructed by your psychiatrist. Taking the recommended dose minimizes the risk of severe side effects.
How long does treatment for self-harm and suicidal ideation typically last?
When you get inpatient treatment for self-harm or suicidal ideation from This Way Out, your treatment plan typically lasts several weeks. After this period, you may continue ongoing treatment in the form of suicidal ideation or self-harm therapy, medication, or a combination of both.
Being proactive and continuing treatment until you reach remission — your self-harming behavior and suicidal ideation have decreased dramatically — is the best way to make a full recovery.
How important is family support in the treatment of self-harm and suicidal ideation?
The support of your loved ones can make a major difference in the success of treatment for self-harm and suicidal ideation. Parents and other family members can learn skills that help their struggling loved one get the support they need throughout the recovery process.