Passive suicide: what it is and how to deal with it

The desire to end one’s life (or thoughts about it) is not always accompanied by actions aimed at achieving it. Sometimes, the person simply “lets himself die” in a slower and more subtle process that is difficult to detect by the environment. Intentions are not communicated and what is happening is misinterpreted or downplayed. This is how passive suicide cuts off thousands of lives, especially in older people.

You have to understand that a suicide attempt does not come out of nowhere. It is the result of a previous mental process known as suicidal ideation. These ideas generally involve a plan with specific ways to actively end one’s life. However, sometimes They camouflage themselves as a “simple” thought or desire to die, without a specific approach of getting hurt.

Although in this second case there is no imminent risk to life, it is essential not to ignore it, since can evolve into a more active attitude or end with a fatal outcome if it lasts over time.

In passive suicide the person enters a state of passivity that puts them at risk.

What is passive suicide?

As we said, passive suicidal ideation includes all of those desires or thoughts about death that do not involve a concrete active plan. To understand it better, let’s give some examples of what this ideation can look like:

“I wish I had never been born.” “I wish I didn’t exist.” “I wish I died in my sleep, I’m tired.” “I wish the car I’m in would crash.” “Life is very difficult, I no longer want to continue living.” “Others would be better off if I no longer existed.”

When these thoughts are frequent and truly felt, there is a risk to life. And the thing is that, perhaps, the person is not going to actively attack himself, but he is you can ignore your well-being or enter a state of passivity that puts you at risk. For example:

Person stop eating food or is not nourished adequately and sufficiently. Dehydration may also occur.Does not adhere to prescribed treatmentsneglecting their health and being affected by both physical and psychological illnesses that could be controlled. neglect personal hygiene.The person remains isolated and sedentary most of the time. He withdraws and does not participate in activities necessary to care for his physical and emotional well-being. He may engage in risky behaviors and situations.

In short, the person does not actively attack or harm himself, but It is neglected to such a degree that it poses a risk to your health and life. And deep down there is this idea that living has no meaning and there is no desire to continue.

Why does passive suicide occur?

It is very common for those who have passive suicidal ideation are immersed in a depressive disorder. Negative thoughts about oneself, hopelessness, apathy, apathy… All these symptoms accompany and feed that desire not to continue living. It is also possible that other conditions such as bipolar disorder or anxiety disorders underlie these ideas.

But, in addition to this, there are other risk factors that have been identified and that are associated with the risk of passive suicide:

experience strong feelings of loneliness and having lived experiences of rejection. Social isolation and not having a circle of support. Having a family history of suicide, attempted suicide, or suicidal ideation. Having suffered trauma or abuse.Having recently gone through an adverse situation and challenging (e.g., death of a spouse) or currently experiencing it (e.g., a disabling illness).Feel hopelessness towards the future. A helplessness that leads the person to believe that their reality cannot improve.Have undiagnosed severe depression or not having access to mental health resources. Elderly people have a higher risk of passive suicide.

People who have passive suicidal ideation often have a depressive disorder.

Seeking help is essential

Passive suicide is a reality that is not tracked, so there is no reliable and valid data regarding its prevalence. However, it is believed that It is much more common than we imagine. What happens is that those who find themselves in this situation rarely seek help; and this happens for various reasons.

First of all, it is common that they are not aware of the disease (that is, they consider that nothing is happening to them and that these thoughts are normal). They may also feel that their situation is not serious enough or relevant enough to talk about (after all, they are not actively planning to end their life).

However, let’s try to avoid the temptation to belittle passive suicidal ideation. It has been found that even fleeting thoughts about it can increase, evolving into active ideation.

If you feel identified with what was described above (or if you know someone close to you in this situation) it is essential to take action. There are certain actions that can help and protect; For example, talking to someone you trust about your ideas and emotions, starting to structure your routine and embark on healthier habits, as well as nurturing your social relationships and getting involved in pleasant and motivating activities.

Nevertheless, seeking psychological support is the first step, and also the most transcendent, to cut off the vital abandonment that the person has begun.

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