September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to remember those we have lost, support people who have experienced suicidal thoughts or behaviors, and make sure people know where to turn when they need help. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recognizes September each year as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, with an emphasis on connection, early support, treatment, and recovery.
It is also an opportunity to talk about connections that may receive less attention. One of those is the relationship between ADHD and suicide risk.
When most people think about ADHD, they think about distractibility, procrastination, losing things, difficulty sitting still, or struggling to finish tasks. Those can certainly be parts of ADHD. But ADHD can affect far more than attention.
For some adults, ADHD also involves impulsivity, difficulty with self-control, frustration, occupational problems, relationship difficulties, and years of feeling as though they are continually falling short despite trying very hard. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) notes that adults with ADHD may struggle with organization, appointments, work performance, relationships, completing projects, and impulsive or risky behavior (National Institute of Mental Health, 2024).
And ADHD often does not occur by itself.
ADHD and Mental Health
ADHD commonly co-occurs with other mental health conditions. Anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, and sleep difficulties may occur alongside ADHD and can complicate both diagnosis and treatment (National Institute of Mental Health, 2024).
That becomes especially important when we talk about suicide prevention.
Research has found an association between ADHD and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. In a population-based study using data from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey in England, adults with greater ADHD symptoms had higher rates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts (Stickley et al., 2016). Researchers have also emphasized that the relationship is complicated: ADHD frequently overlaps with other conditions already associated with suicide risk, including depression and substance use disorders (Furczyk & Thome, 2014).
This distinction matters.
Having ADHD does not mean that someone will become suicidal. ADHD is one potential part of a much larger clinical picture. Suicide is complex and typically involves multiple interacting risk and protective factors rather than a single diagnosis or cause (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2026).
Why Might Someone With ADHD Be More Vulnerable?
There probably isn’t one explanation.
For some people, impulsivity may be part of the picture. ADHD can involve acting without thinking or difficulty with self-control. For others, the greater burden may come from co-occurring depression, anxiety, substance use, sleep problems, relationship difficulties, or other life stressors.
And then there is the cumulative experience of living with ADHD.
Imagine repeatedly hearing:
“You’re so smart. Why can’t you just get it together?”
Or constantly missing deadlines, forgetting appointments, struggling to manage time, having problems at work, experiencing conflict in relationships, or working twice as hard as it seems everyone else does just to stay on top of everyday responsibilities.
Those experiences can add up.
An adult may arrive in therapy talking about depression, anxiety, exhaustion, relationship problems, low self-esteem, or feeling overwhelmed without realizing that longstanding ADHD symptoms may be contributing to some of those difficulties.
Sometimes ADHD Hasn’t Been Recognized Yet
Not everyone struggling with ADHD knows they have ADHD.
Some adults reach their 30s, 40s, 50s, or beyond before ADHD is recognized. NIMH notes that adults may have gone undiagnosed in childhood because their symptoms weren’t recognized, their environment provided enough structure to compensate, or their symptoms became much harder to manage as adult responsibilities increased. ADHD symptoms in girls and women have also historically been particularly likely to go unrecognized during childhood (National Institute of Mental Health, 2024).
Instead, people may spend years describing themselves as lazy, irresponsible, disorganized, unmotivated, or incapable of doing things that seem easy for everyone else.
That is one reason comprehensive assessment matters.
Difficulty concentrating doesn’t automatically mean ADHD. Depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, stress, medical conditions, trauma, substance use, and other factors can produce symptoms that overlap with ADHD. NIMH specifically recommends a thorough assessment that considers medical and mental-health history, current functioning, childhood symptoms, and alternative explanations (National Institute of Mental Health, 2024).
Understanding what is actually happening gives people a better opportunity to receive appropriate treatment and support.
Asking About Suicide Doesn’t Put the Idea in Someone’s Head
People sometimes avoid asking someone directly about suicide because they’re afraid mentioning it will somehow introduce the idea.
It is okay to ask.
If someone you care about seems hopeless, withdrawn, overwhelmed, or significantly different from their usual self, you can ask directly whether they have been thinking about suicide or hurting themselves.
You don’t need perfect words. You don’t need to diagnose them. And you don’t need to solve everything they are experiencing.
You can listen, take what they tell you seriously, and help them connect with appropriate support.
You Don’t Have to Wait for a Crisis to Ask for Help
One message is especially important during Suicide Prevention Month:
You do not have to wait until things become unbearable to reach out.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day. People can call or text 988, or use online chat through the 988 Lifeline. SAMHSA emphasizes that 988 isn’t only for someone who is moments away from attempting suicide. Someone who is struggling, overwhelmed, or experiencing emotional pain can reach out as well. Support is free and confidential.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call, text, or chat
Veterans can call 988 and press 1 to connect with the Veterans Crisis Line. Spanish-language services and accessibility options for people who are deaf or hard of hearing are also available.
If someone is in immediate life-threatening danger, call 911 or seek emergency medical care.
Awareness Should Last Longer Than September
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month gives us a reason to have these conversations publicly, but suicide prevention doesn’t belong to a single month.
It happens when we notice that someone isn’t doing well.
It happens when we ask the uncomfortable question.
It happens when we listen to the answer.
It happens when we recognize that conditions such as ADHD can involve much more than difficulty paying attention.
And sometimes, understanding why someone has struggled for so long can be an important step toward finding a different way forward.
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References & Resources
Furczyk, K., & Thome, J. (2014). Adult ADHD and suicide. Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders, 6(3), 153–158. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-014-0150-1.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2024). ADHD in adults: 4 things to know. National Institutes of Health.
NIMH: ADHD in Adults
National Institute of Mental Health. (2024). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: What you need to know. National Institutes of Health.
NIMH: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Stickley, A., Koyanagi, A., Ruchkin, V., & Kamio, Y. (2016). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms and suicide ideation and attempts: Findings from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2007. Journal of Affective Disorders, 189, 321–328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.09.061.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2026). Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
SAMHSA Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Free, confidential crisis support is available 24/7. Call or text 988, or use online chat.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
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