Suicidal ideation is considering, imagining or formulating plans to commit suicide. Many times these ideas appear when someone feels out of control or their life is not meaningful. Even though the majority of people who have suicidal thoughts do not attempt it, having persistent ideas should still be treated as a big risk factor. Suicidal ideation can be passive or active. Passive ideation occurs when one desires to die, but has no real intention to commit suicide. Active ideation could include giving personal, valuable items away, writing a suicide note or devising a plan on how to carry out the steps.

Among the many myths about suicide, is that discussing it with someone who is at risk will only encourage the person to go through with it. It is crucial to have a conversation with someone who may vocalize ideas or have actual plans of ending their life.