What is it, why does it happen, and what signs should I be looking out for? We share everything you need to know about passive suicidal ideation

Passive suicidal ideation is something that many of us experience, but few of us seriously talk about. Perhaps you have thought “I wish I could fall asleep and not wake up”, or “I wish I could die so I don’t have to deal with this.” These are examples of passive suicidal ideation and, while they are not active plans, and often focus on ways in which someone may die rather than actively cause their own death (you may focus on thoughts of death through an accident or natural causes, rather than suicide), these thoughts can be not only worrying but can lead to engaging in riskier behaviour without even realising it.

We explain more about the different types of suicidal ideation, warning signs to look out for, and how to find help.

What’s the difference between passive and active suicidal ideation?

Having suicidal thoughts is a spectrum. For some people, these thoughts may be active: they think about suicide and may have developed a plan for what they will do. They want to die. For others, it may be passive: they wish they were dead or could die, but do not have any plans.

Suicidal ideation can be a symptom of other mental health issues. It can be a symptom of severe depression or manic depression for those with a bipolar disorder diagnosis.

Neither kind of suicidal ideation should be dismissed. You are still at risk of harm if you have passively suicidal thoughts. Intent and motivation can change quickly, meaning you may not feel at risk now, but that could change before you realise it or have time to seek help. Studies have suggested that if you experience high levels of depression and suicidality, thoughts of passive and active ideation have the potential to become more severe and dangerous.

How many people experience passive suicidal ideation?

Passive suicidal thoughts are more common than many of us realise. Worldwide, around 9% of us will experience suicidal ideation at some point in our lives. Within the last 12 months, that sits at around 2%. One US study revealed around 4% of adults aged 18 and over have thought about suicide, with those aged 18 to 25 the most likely to have had such thoughts.

As of 2020, around 10 in every 100,000 deaths were contributed to suicide in England. For men, that rate was much higher (15.3 per 100,000) compared to women (4.9 per 100,000). Men aged 45-49 have the highest suicide rate (23.8 per 100,000). Worldwide, the World Health Organisation estimated one in every 100 deaths i