Suicide and suicidal thoughts

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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

Suicide and suicidal thoughts have many potential complications. The most obvious and tragic, of course, is death.

But suicide and attempted suicide exact a toll in other ways, too — both for those who want to take their own life and for their loved ones. You may be so consumed by suicidal thoughts that you can't function in your daily life, for instance. And while many suicide attempts are impulsive acts during a moment of crisis, they can leave you with permanent serious or debilitating injuries, such as organ failure or brain damage.

For those left behind after a suicide — people known as survivors of suicide — grief, anger, depression and guilt are common.

References
  1. Schreiber J, et al. Suicidal ideation and behavior in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 9, 2010.
  2. Kennebeck S, et al. Evaluation and management of suicidal behavior in children and adolescents. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 9, 2010.
  3. Barbara Woodward Lips Patient Education Center. Understanding attempted suicide. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2005.
  4. Understanding suicide fact sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/pub-res/suicide_factsheet2008.pdf. Accessed Feb. 2, 2010.
  5. Logan J, et al. Characteristics of perpetrators in homicide-followed-by-suicide incidents: National Violent Death Reporting System - 17 US States, 2003-2005. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2008;169:9.
  6. The risk factors for suicide. American Association of Suicidology. http://www.suicidology.org/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=232&name=DLFE-186.doc. Accessed Feb. 2, 2010.
DS01062 March 25, 2010

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