Suicidal Ideation May Be Less Common in Pregnant Women on Welfare

When we look at the groups of individuals in our society who are most prone to complications associated with suicidal ideation, it is not uncommon to classify these individuals as those who are suffering from long term mental illness. In actuality, suicidal ideation is most often experienced by those with very little history of mental illness and, instead, is suffering from a change in lifestyle or loss of some aspect of their personal self-esteem.

For women, loss of self-esteem, especially from a life changing event, can result in suicidal ideations. Specific events may include conviction of a criminal offense, histories of substance abuse, experiencing a sudden physical limitation or even experiencing a sudden emotional event, such as death or divorce. For some women, finding ways in which to cope with the depression and suicidal ideation may lead to life decisions that only serve to complicate their situation.

Women who find they are unemployed, uneducated and have experienced a sudden loss in income, may experience confusion with regard to suicidal ideation. Interestingly enough, with pregnancy, many women begin to feel some sense of relief as they acquire the assistance of social services, thus feeling supported to some extent. As a result, many social service organizations have found that, for women who experience loss of job or support networks, the feelings of suicidal ideation are often offset by a pregnancy that leads to the use of social services.

While, as a society, we often view women on welfare and social services as a group that is overwhelmingly at risk for suicidal ideation, this is simply not the case. The exception to this finding may be found in women who are not of child bearing age, such as those who have passed into menopause. Feeling they can not become pregnant and access social services, women in this demographic may experience suicidal ideation when a life changing event occurs. In addition, if the woman has fallen to victim of a criminal act, such as rape, the suicidal ideation is far more common when on welfare programs.