If you are reading this, you may be someone with POTS who has struggled with suicidal ideation, or perhaps you are someone with POTS who is curious and wants to learn more about the connection. You also may be a concerned loved one, such as a parent. We developed this section to increase awareness around this significant concern our community faces. Talking about suicide and suicidal ideation does not increase the risk of suicide, contrary to what many believe. It is important to talk about this openly and honestly, as difficult as it may be. If you are currently in crisis, please visit our Crisis Resources section to talk to someone who can help support you.

We understand that reading some of this content may be difficult, so please ensure you have access to all of the resources you need. We do realize that although it is important, some of the content may be triggering. Please prioritize your self-care.

Main Takeaways From Current Research Specific To Suicide Risk And POTS:

• Researchers found that individuals with POTS were at a much greater risk of suicide than those in the control group without POTS (Pederson & Brook, 2017).

• Individuals with POTS reported significant difficulties that led to various activity limitations. When compared to healthy subjects, those with POTS also experienced large reductions in their quality of life (Pederson & Brook, 2017).

• Within one study surveying young women with POTS, 97% reported that they had “activity limitations based on their health problems,” and thirty percent reported that they needed help with self-care regimens including bathing, getting dressed, eating and/or moving from one place to another within their home (Pederson & Brook, 2017). Researchers discovered within the same study that 47.6% were at high risk for suicide, where almost 40% of all individuals surveyed made a suicide attempt or developed a plan to kill themselves (Pederson & Brook, 2017). Additionally, “37% of [those with POTS] had threatened suicide at least once and 7.2% reported being likely to kill themselves in the future” (Pederson & Brook, 2017).

• Within the chronic illness community, where individuals can find themselves navigating a significant amount of emotional distress and physical challenges, suicide continues to be a significant avoidable cause of death (Pederson & Brook, 2017).

• Another study discovered that those with POTS were close to the “high risk” for suicide cut-off as opposed to those within the control group who were healthy (Pederson & Brook, 2017).

• Reduced quality of sleep alongside a diagnosis of POTS increased risk of suicide (Pederson & Brook, 2017).

• It was discovered that individuals with POTS had a much higher risk of suicidal ideation, past suicide attempts, and future suicide attempts (Pederson & Brook, 2017).

We understand how sobering it may be to read these statistics; this is why we dedicated so much space within our website to discussing crisis and suicide. We love everyone in our community, and one life lost to suicide is too many. We must spread awareness to save as many lives as possible. As more develop POTS secondary to COVID-19 (see our COVID-19 Infections section for more information), there is no time to waste. If you are reading this and are struggling with suicidal ideation, please reach out to a trusted crisis resource which can be accessed here. We want to ensure you get the support you need.

This world would not be the same without you. Tomorrow needs you. Please stay. You never know what beauty tomorrow may bring.

Sources:

Pederson, C. L., & Brook, J. B. (2017). Health-related quality of life and suicide risk in postural tachycardia syndrome. Clinical Autonomic Research, 27(2), 75–81. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10286-017-0399-5

Pederson, C., & Blettner Brook, J. (2017). Sleep disturbance linked to suicidal ideation in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. Nature and Science of Sleep, Volume 9, 109–115. https://doi.org/10.2147/nss.s128513