Are Highly Sensitive People More Susceptible to Suicide? Survey Results Including Recommended Resources
by Julie Bjelland, LMFT
As a psychotherapist, I have seen firsthand how highly sensitive people (HSPs) struggle with mental health challenges and may be more prone to suicidal ideation. The following article shares:
Data from a survey of HSPs
Information and resources on what we have learned can support HSPs and potentially save thousands, if not millions, of HSP lives.
Please help us save lives by sharing this article with medical and mental health professionals to help them develop the right support for their HSP clients and patients.
*The following data is from a survey of 326 HSPs collected between December 17-22, 2022.
90.2% of HSPs have had thoughts of suicide
18.4% have attempted suicide
32.8% use alcohol or drugs to numb emotional pain.
Many HSPs shared that they used alcohol to numb when they were younger but have since quit as they have gotten older, learned about high sensitivity, and developed healthier coping strategies.
Several HSPs shared that they use food to cope.
One of the main reasons HSPs shared they did not attempt suicide was concern about how it would hurt people in their lives. Many shared that they had experienced the suicide of a loved one that they believed was an HSP, and knowing the pain, it created deterred them from acting on the feelings.
Things that were named that make it hard to cope
Overwhelming and intense emotions
Sensory overload
Absorbing the suffering of others and the world
Feeling different and misunderstood
Not understanding how to support their sensitivity
3 Areas That Help + Recommended Resources to Support Those Needs
In the survey, HSPs also identified three main areas that helped them cope, which we can use to help others. Within each of the three areas, I have provided resources.
Learning About the Trait of High Sensitivity
Many HSPs shared that when they learned about being a highly sensitive person, it helped, and they wished they had learned about it sooner. Learning about their trait of high sensitivity made them feel less alone in how they experienced the world, and it opened up a window to understanding themselves. It helped explain why they experienced the world the way they did and why they always felt different from those around them. It also helped them understand, accept, and honor that their self-care needs look different than most. These factors improved wellness, self-esteem, self-compassion, and coping ability.
The following are free resources to learn more about high sensitivity
Free Webinars with Julie Bjelland, LMFT
Sensory Overload and the Highly Sensitive Person is one of the biggest challenges and often the culprit to feeling overwhelmed, overstimulated, anxious, irritable, having difficulty sleeping, and even chronic health conditions.
High Sensitivity and Anxiety: We explore why anxiety is so high in HSPs and share tools and resources to help you naturally reduce anxiety.
Tools to Help the Sensitive Thrive in a Chaotic World The modern world is often overwhelming and stressful for sensitive nervous systems. Fortunately, I have developed tools that have helped thousands of HSPs worldwide.
How to Set Healthy Boundaries and Why it’s Essential for Wellness as an HSP Do you feel guilty saying no? Without boundaries, we suffer from depletion and often feel resentment in our relationships. Setting healthy boundaries improves our lives and our relationships.
2. Self-Care the HSP Way
HSPs reported that when they started being consistent about specific types of self-care that reduced sensory overload and supported the sensitive nervous system, their mental and physical health improved, offering greater resiliency and coping skills. Some things that helped were slowing down and spending more time in nature, mindfulness, meditation, daily unstructured alone time, working on boundaries, developing self-compassion, and working with a therapist. All improved the ability to cope.
Recommended Resources
Explore online courses created to teach HSPs the type of self-care that works best to regulate the sensitive nervous system. Each course covers different types of support. Here are the recommendations:
For overwhelming emotions and high anxiety: Brain Training For the Highly Sensitive Person Course, Techniques to Reduce Anxiety & Overwhelming Emotions has been one of my most popular courses and often reduces anxiety naturally within the first two weeks.
Daily tools to calm the nervous system: The HSP Toolbox Course, Holistic Tools to Calm a Sensitive Nervous System. Because we live in a world not set up for high sensitivity, these daily tools have been proven to help keep the nervous system balanced throughout the day, leading to improved mental and physical health.
Increase self-love & boundaries: Blooming Brilliantly Course, Understanding and Loving Who You are as a Sensitive Person. Grow more self-compassion, learn how to set healthy boundaries, advocate for your needs, protect your energy, and improve relationships.
Visit HSPcourses.com for more information.
3. Supportive People
Those that reported having supportive people around them named it as one of the key factors in improving wellness and mental health.
Recommended
Being around other kind-hearted, highly sensitive people helps normalize and validate your experience and improves self-acceptance, improving overall mental and physical health. In a poll from my Sensitive Empowerment Community, HSPs shared their wellness had improved since joining the community. We also offer a group for HSPs with depression to help them heal, feel a sense of belonging, and thrive. Because social media can be stressful and overwhelming for sensitive people, and many HSPs don’t feel supported by their friends and families, I’ve created a safe, positive, and inclusive community on a private platform. We are a sensitive family that supports each other. Learn more at SensitiveCommunity.com
Many HSPs shared that psychotherapy helped them and that matches with the research showing HSPs tend to have very good outcomes working with mental health professionals. We’ve seen a lot of benefits to HSPs working with mental health professionals who are also HSPs, so I have created an HSP Practitioners Directory. If you are an HSP medical or mental health practitioner, we invite you to get listed so HSPs who need you can find you.
Are you worried about someone?
Here are some questions to ask
“Are you feeling suicidal?” “Do you have a plan and the means?” Asking people directly is important. It’s a myth that you will plant ideas in someone’s head to talk about suicide. In fact, talking about it is the first step toward getting help and healing. Most people want the pain to stop and do not want to die, so it can also be a powerful question to ask, “Do you really want to die, or do you just want the pain to stop or go away?”
Share Resources
If you know someone who is struggling with thoughts of suicide, let them know they are not alone and that there is immediate help available 24 hours a day. They can call, text, or chat 988, and you will be connected to trained counselors in the United States at the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, always available 24 hours a day, free and confidential.
Internationally, you can find suicide hotlines in your country at the International Association for Suicide Prevention.
Help them start small and work their way toward bigger accomplishments
Don’t have the energy for a shower? Start with washing your face.
Having a hard time going for a walk? Sit in the sun and admire a tree instead.
Can’t do all of the dishes? Just wash one dish.
Finding it hard to clean a whole room? Start with a corner or one drawer.
Focusing on the little accomplishments can lead to bigger ones.
In Conclusion
The answers I saw in this survey matched what I have seen in my work with HSPs worldwide. We have clear information about what supports highly sensitive people. We understand that there is not something wrong with sensitivity; rather, our sensitivity challenges come from the world not being set up for our sensitivity levels.
A particular type of self-care focused on reducing sensory overload and the strain on the nervous system is extremely effective at reducing the challenges and improving mental and physical health outcomes. Once these challenges are reduced, HSPs thrive to even higher potentials than most. They are some of our most gifted artists, musicians, creators, writers, teachers, medical and mental health professionals, innovators, and compassionate leaders that the world needs.
HSPs are some of the kindest, most empathetic people, and there are incredible gifts within this trait. This trait exists because its gifts help the population survive. Supporting the needs of the sensitive is good for the world. We can save millions of lives if we understand how to support and nurture preciously beautiful, sensitive people.