Separating Myth from Fact for Suicide Awareness Month

FARGO — We’re only about a week through Suicide Awareness Month, and health experts are helping to dismantle some common misconceptions about suicide and suicidal thoughts.

Dr. Alexandra Kohlhase is a therapist at Essentia Health.

She says she sees a lot of people worried about their intrusive thoughts.

Those are thoughts that are unwelcome, reoccurring, and that upsetting.

For example, she says, if you happen to have a sudden thought such as “What if I were driving and swerved into traffic?”

Intrusive thoughts don’t necessarily need to be along the lines of self-harm, but they are in this context.

Kohlhase says thoughts like that are pretty common, and not necessarily a sign you’re suicidal or have real suicidal ideation.

She says you need to ask yourself how often these thoughts are happening, and whether they reflect something you want to do or tend to do.

Kohlhase joined the Morning Show to talk about some of the other misunderstood aspects about your risk of suicide, and how the seasons can also play a role in mood and mental health.

For more information:

https://www.essentiahealth.org/find-doctor-provider/alexandra-kohlhase