Thoughts of suicide are commonly referred to in medicine as suicidal ideation. Thoughts might be transient or they can stick around and develop into a strategy.

Even though they may act suicidally or try suicide, many people who have suicidal thoughts do not really end their lives by suicide. Suicidal thoughts or acts can be brought on by a variety of factors, including panic attacks, sadness, hopelessness, extreme anxiety, sleeplessness, or acute anxiety.

Suicidal thoughts are not a common symptom of these or other medical or mental health disorders, although they can happen to some people.