The Link Between OCD and Suicide

The Link Between OCD and Suicide OCD Living With OCD Print The Link Between OCD and Suicide By Owen Kelly, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 24, 2020 Photographer is my life. / Getty Images More in OCD Living With OCD Causes Symptoms and Diagnosis Treatment Types Related Conditions Information presented in this article may be triggering to some people. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911 immediately. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic mental illness that can be associated with significant disability and suffering. Indeed, people with OCD often report serious difficulties in relationships and problems at work. For some people, living with OCD can become overwhelming and can cause them to lose hope and to contemplate or even attempt suicide. If you have a family member or friend with OCD  thats exhibiting the potential warning signs of suicide, its important to know what to do. OCD and Suicide Although it has long been known that the risk of suicide is higher for people who are affected by mood disorders and schizophrenia, the relationship between anxiety disorders, such as OCD, and suicide has been less clear. However, recent studies suggest that people with OCD are 10 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. Actively thinking about suicide (sometimes called suicidal ideation) also appears to be relatively common among people affected by OCD. Factors that predict whether someone with OCD will attempt suicide include the severity of their OCD symptoms, the co-occurrence of depression, feelings of hopelessness, the presence of a personality disorder such as obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, and a prior history of self-harm, such as cutting. The risk of suicide also goes up if the person with OCD is actively using drugs or alcohol, is unemployed, or is socially isolated. If your loved one is having suicidal thoughts, urge them to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911. Potential Suicide Warning Signs Its not always easy to know if someone is going to attempt suicide, but there are a number of potential warning signs that can signal that someone is thinking about harming themselves, including: Increased hopelessness: Your loved one may talk openly and at length about feeling hopeless, helpless, or that she cant take it anymore.Speaking of death or suicide: Out-of-character remarks about death, speaking openly about suicide, or an expressed desire to die by suicide should always be taken seriously. In some cases, this may be your loved ones way of asking for help.Increased depression: Your loved one may exhibit symptoms of depression, such as withdrawing from others, crying all the time, loss of interest in hobbies or activities, disrupted sleep, and lack of appetite.Preparing for death: People actively contemplating suicide will sometimes take out an insurance policy, adjust and/or create a will, or advise someone close to them of their final wishes.Changes in behavior: A normally cautious individual may engage in reckless or impulsive behavior and express little fear of the consequences of such behavior. Conversely, someone who is depressed may suddenly act cheerful for n o apparent reason.Giving away possessions: Its not uncommon for individuals who are actively contemplating suicide to give away prized possessions to trusted friends or family members. What You Can Do If you have a loved one with OCD whos exhibiting the potential warning signs of suicide, heres what you can do to help: Keep communicating: Talk openly and frankly about what your loved one is feelingâ€"talking about suicide doesnt make it more likely that she will harm herself. Dont be afraid to express your own feelings as well. If youre scared and worried about your loved one, then it can be helpful to say so.Ask questions:  Although it can be uncomfortable, frankly asking questions about whether your loved one is thinking of killing or harming himself, as well as other details such as how and when hes considering doing it, whether he has access to a weapon or large amounts of medications, and other relevant concerns, may help ensure that suicide does not become an untouchable subject.Empathize, dont minimize: As you might imagine, admitting suicidal thoughts or a suicide plan is often an extremely difficult, embarrassing, and painful experience. Simply telling your loved one to stop thinking about it, think good thoughts, or even to get over it, may make her feel even more rejected, insecure, and/ or depressed. Make sure you let your loved one know that you understand how difficult this experience must be for her.Get help: Suicide is a very serious problem that often requires hospitalization and the assistance of qualified professionals. In cases where you feel your loved one is an immediate danger to herself, accompany her to the local hospital emergency department or wait with her until help (e.g., police or ambulance) arrives. In less urgent cases, help him locate and/or access resources such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a support group, or a mental health professional he trusts. The 9 Best Online Therapy Programs