Finding Hope: OCD, Suicide Awareness, and the Power of Effective Treatment
⚠️ Trigger Warning: This post discusses intrusive thoughts, suicide, and self-harm.
Closing Out Suicide Awareness Month
Throughout September, we’ve explored Harm OCD, suicide risk, and the importance of distinguishing intrusive thoughts from true suicidal intent. These topics can be heavy—and for those living with OCD, they can sometimes feel overwhelming.
But awareness brings power. The more clearly we understand OCD and its risks, the better equipped we are to get help, offer support, and reduce suffering.
What We’ve Learned This Month
Harm OCD involves intrusive thoughts about harm that are ego-dystonic—unwanted, distressing, and inconsistent with who you are.
People with OCD are at higher risk of suicide compared to the general population, especially when symptoms involve taboo or distressing content.
Distinguishing Harm OCD from suicidal ideation is crucial for diagnosis, safety, and treatment.
Treatment options vary: ERP and ACT are evidence-based for OCD, while suicidal ideation requires risk assessment, safety planning, and support for underlying conditions.
Moving Toward Hope
While the statistics can feel frightening, they don’t define the future. With effective treatment—like ERP, ACT, I-CBT, and proper medication support—intrusive thoughts lose their power, compulsions loosen their grip, and life begins to feel possible again.
For anyone struggling with OCD and intrusive harm thoughts: you are not your thoughts. With the right help, it is possible to find relief, hope, and peace.
Resources
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call or text 988 in the U.S. for immediate support.
If you’re a mental health professional, consider seeking specialized training in OCD treatment. If you’re living with OCD, reaching out to an OCD specialist can make a life-changing difference.
✦ This concludes our September Suicide Awareness Month blog series. Thank you for following along. Together, by raising awareness and sharing hope, we can change lives.
Sources:
International OCD Foundation (IOCDF.org)
Glazier, Calixte, Rothschild, & Pinto (2013)
Glazier, Swing, & McGinn (2015)
Springer & Tonlin (2020)
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH, 2021)
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2022)
