Swell Counseling

What is it and how to identify it:

This topic has become more well -known and spoken about, which is wonderful, but there are some different parts of suicidality that are not always talked about. There are different types of suicidal thoughts- active and passive.

Active suicidal thoughts are assessed by the person having a plan, intent, and means. This means the person has planned out the event and has likely been thinking about this for a while.

Passive suicidal thoughts are when a person experiences thoughts like “It would be better if I wasn’t here anymore” or “No one would notice if I was gone from this earth”. In some cases, these thoughts are usually unwanted and a result from depression. This is the most common, and a lot of people have likely experienced these thoughts, but never knew a name for them.

Signs to look out for:

-depression-lack of motivation to do things the person normally enjoys doing, lack of hygiene upkeep, lots of sleeping

-isolating- not being as social or responsive to messages/phone calls

-getting rid of belongings

-talking about the desire to die, having a lot of guilt or shame

-not eating

These are just some of the ways, not all of them and sometimes it can be difficult to predict in people.

This is a very serious topic that we should not tread lightly around. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts here are some great resources to help you find the right mental health care you may need.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 
Call or text 988
Chat at 988lifeline.org