Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by manic and depressive episodes...
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by manic and depressive episodes. Suicidal behavior is common among people with bipolar disorder. People with bipolar disorder are prone to death through suicide, and many of them attempt suicide at least once in their lifetime. Previous suicidal acts are the most typical ways to identify suicide risk in bipolar people. Failure to get treatment and support for bipolar disorder is another way to identify suicide risk in bipolar people. Bipolar people who experience stressful life events are also prone to the risk of suicide. Long depressive phases are another way to identify suicide risk in bipolar people.
Although bipolar people experience mania and depressive symptoms at different intervals, long depressive phases signify a higher suicide risk. Bipolar people who engage in substance abuse are more prone to suicidal risk than people who don't. Read on to gain insights on how to identify suicide risk in bipolar people.
This is a common way to identify suicide risk in bipolar people. One can predict future suicide attempts or eventual death by suicide from previous suicidal acts. Death from suicide is common among bipolar people because they use more lethal means. Easy access to weapons also makes it easy for them to carry out their plan. You can quickly identify suicide risks where they have laid out plans. This involves acquiring weapons to carry out their plan and rehearsing the attempt. Other warning signals include; making a will, saying inappropriate goodbyes, giving away their things, making ambiguous statements such as, 'I can't take this anymore,' 'You're not going to have to worry about me anymore,' or 'You'd be better off without me,' 'I wish I could sleep and never wake up.'
You must watch out for the intensity of the attempt, methods used, access to weapons, and the kind of statements they are making. Remove any lethal weapon or anything that can be used as a weapon around them. Similarly, ensure that they are not in an environment where they can easily carry out their attempts. You also need to ensure your loved one seeks a professional where they have attempted suicide.
Failure to get the necessary treatment puts a bipolar person at a suicide risk. The majority of those who attempt suicide or eventually succeed in committing suicide are those who have failed to get treatment. The longer you go without treatment, the higher your risk of attempting suicide. Whether the situation is such that they refuse to get treatment after they exhibit bipolar symptoms or they fail to get treated after a doctor's diagnosis, they are at a higher suicide risk. Treatment ensures you get the best care possible. It also ensures that you can manage your symptoms and go on to live a healthy and everyday life. Getting treated also means your relatives and friends' safety is not compromised. This is because bipolar people are not only prone to self-harm but are also at risk of hurting the people around them. This could make them isolate themself from the people around them. Treatment is highly beneficial for you and your loved ones.
Suicide risk is higher in bipolar people if they're going through stressful life events such as the terminal illness of a close relative, divorce, or separation. The risk of suicide is also more frequent in bipolar people living alone, single parents, or unmarried. Work problems or unemployment also contribute to elevated levels of suicidality. Tragic events such as sexual or physical abuse, parental loss, conviction, and financial problems are stressful events that make a bipolar person experience rapid and severe mood shifts and exhibit violent behavior. The period after a bipolar diagnosis and the early years after diagnosis are also stressful periods where bipolar people suffer from high levels of suicidality. Frequent hospitalization during this period leads to depressive phases, heightening the risk of suicide and self-harm. A bipolar person with impulsive and aggressive traits is prone to committing suicide after a stressful event. A person with high hopelessness and pessimism during this time is also at a greater risk of suicide.
A predominant and protracted phase of depression is a way to identify suicide risk in bipolar people. The risk of suicide in bipolar people is higher when they experience recurrent and persistent depression than mania or hypomania. Depression can make them feel sadness, tiredness, irritability, and prone to outbursts. They might also neglect their welfare and appearance. It could also make them withdrawn and isolated, apathetic and anxious with feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, or powerlessness. They could also be consumed with guilt, shame, self-hatred, and pain. This might make them feel like committing self-harm or harming others, leading to low performance in school or at work. They might also not be interested in hanging out with friends or other social activities they previously enjoyed. This could either make them isolate themselves or make them prone to mixing with the 'wrong crowd.' Both of which puts them at risk of committing suicide.
Regular alcohol or drug abuse is another way to identify suicide risk in bipolar people. Substance abuse prevents bipolar people from focusing on getting well or getting the support they need. Instead, it leads to further medical complications and brain damage, making their condition more severe. Substance abuse also inhibits their sound judgment and makes them impulsive. This could result in erratic and harmful behavior. Alcohol intoxication is a major way bipolar people attempt suicide. For instance, they might think that being under alcohol or drug influence during a suicide attempt makes it easier for them to go through with it or it will decrease the pain they would feel.
Seeking treatment and therapy for bipolar disorder helps to reduce their risk of committing suicide. The common ways to identify suicide risk in bipolar people are previous suicidal acts, failure or delay in getting treatment, stressful events, long phases of depression, and substance abuse.
https://www.healthline.com/health/suicide-and-bipolar#takeaway
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6723289/
https://www.verywellmind.com/do-alcohol-other-drugs-increase-risk-of-suicide-6740639
https://www.verywellmind.com/red-flags-warning-signs-of-suicide-379034
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, and owner of Overcomers Counseling. I'm dedicated to helping individuals find strength and healing through life’s challenges. With a deep understanding of mental health and years of professional experience, I specialize in fostering hope and resilience while equipping her clients with tools to thrive. Passionate about empowering others, she creates a safe, supportive space where everyone feels seen, valued, and capable of overcoming obstacles on their path to well-being.
