This article discusses chronic suicidal ideation. Millions of people think about ending their own life each year. Suicidal ideation has often been studied in relation to suicidal behavior, with the goal of understanding what facets and features of suicidal ideation predict the risk of future engagement in suicidal behavior. Many people think about suicide for years, however, and never engage in suicidal behavior. In this viewpoint, the authors argue this phenomenon of suicidal ideation that persists over time has been overlooked and is a concern in its own right, separate from suicidal behaviors or acute, transient suicidal thoughts. First, the authors highlight how chronic suicidal ideation is a problem in and of itself-absent risk for death. Next, they highlight what is currently unknown about chronic suicidal ideation, specifically the how and why this phenomena exists and persists. Finally, they provide specific recommendations for the future study of chronic suicidal ideation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Coppersmith et al. (2026) studied this question.