Suicidal Thinking
In Canada, about 4,500 people end their lives each year, which amounts to 12 lives lost daily. Moreover, over 200 Canadians attempt to end their lives each day, and for every person lost, at least 7 to 10 survivors suffer the impact.
​
Suicidal thinking is a symptom of depression. Thoughts of suicide arise when your mental anguish is greater than your ability to cope.
If you struggle with a mental health condition and you have thoughts of dying, it may be that you have been suffering for so long, that you don't see any way out. You could feel as if hope is lost, and that life simply can't get better.
​
If you are having immediate thoughts of ending your life, please go to the emergency room of your local hospital or call 911.
​
You can also contact Talk Suicide Canada at 1.833.456.4566 , which is open every day from 4 PM—12 AM ET
​
Yet if you are having thoughts of dying that you don't want to act on and you'd like those thoughts to stop...
There is hope.
The only medication at this time that can stop suicidal thinking quickly is ketamine. It can stop thoughts of ending your life within a few hours of the first treatment.
If you or someone you love often thinks about dying, ketamine therapy can help. It can clear your mind, so that you can focus on getting better.
Many studies have demonstrated the benefits of ketamine therapy for addressing suicidal thoughts. Here are a few:
​
Study: Murrough, J. W., Soleimani, L., DeWilde, K. E., Collins, K. A., Lapidus, K. A., Iacoviello, B. M., … Mathew, S. J. (2016). Ketamine for rapid reduction of suicidal ideation: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 77(12), e1594–e1600
​
Summary: This study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry in 2016 showed that a single dose of intravenous ketamine significantly reduced suicidal thoughts within 24 hours of administration. The study included participants with treatment-resistant depression and found that the reduction in suicidal thoughts was maintained for up to six weeks.
​
Study: Canuso, C. M., Singh, J. B., Fedgchin, M., Alphs, L., Lane, R., Lim, P., … Hough, D. (2018). Efficacy and safety of intranasal esketamine for the rapid reduction of symptoms of depression and suicidality in patients at imminent risk for suicide: Results of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. American Journal of Psychiatry, 175(7), 620–630.
​​
Summary: A 2018 study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry discovered that a nasal spray containing esketamine, an enantiomer of ketamine, demonstrated rapid and lasting improvements in suicidal thoughts within four hours of administration. The study involved participants with major depressive disorder and imminent risk of suicide.
​​
Study: Bartoli, F., Riboldi, I., Crocamo, C., Di Brita, C., Clerici, M., & Carrà, G. (2017). Ketamine as a rapid-acting agent for suicidal ideation: A meta-analysis. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 77, 232–236.
​
Summary: A meta-analysis published in 2017, which analyzed data from ten studies, found that ketamine could provide rapid relief from suicidal thoughts in individuals with depression and other mood disorders. The study concluded that ketamine could be a valuable treatment for people at risk of suicide.
​
​