What has helped me tremendously is what someone who has a PhD in psychology, but does not do therapy, told me . She said that suicidal thoughts are quantitative: that is, they are making a statement about *how much* pain one is in. ... "I hurt SO much that...". That has helped me to look beyond the idea to what's behind it.

Also, in reading "Get Me Out of Here", the patient's psychiatrist (who is also a therapist) states calmly that suicidal thoughts and actions are ways of acting out. It is similar to the previous idea, but also for me it is sobering because I don't want to be seen as someone 'acting out'.

Writing about it can help too, to get to what's going on in the 'background' when the thoughts are there.

I think it takes practicing these things or something similar, over a period of time, while also being in therapy and talking about it there, to help get rid of it.

I hope this helps.