Suicide Silence Effects of Eating Disorders and Risk of Death
As much as people don't want to admit it, an eating disorder is a form of suicide silence. It is a form of slow, practically painless suicide ... a suicide method many people tend to overlook. While I don't think people who develop eating disorders intentionally mean to kill themselves, eventually, as the disorder progresses, the effects of eating disorders take over and the disorder becomes a slow means of suicide.
This mostly unintentional outcome of slowly commiting suicide through anorexia symptoms or bulimia nervosa or ednos is what I would term suicide silence. But there is another "form" of suicide that is also a risk in people who have eating disorders - actually attempting to commit suicide.
Mortality Rate for EDs is Higher
The mortality rate for anorexia is higher than for any other psychiatric disorder (more anorexia statistics here), and it's not just because of slowly wasting away. It's because people with anorexia symptoms are more likely to commit suicide - upwards of 57 times that seen in their healthy counterparts. Similarly, people diagnosed with bulimia nervosa are more likely to have tried to commit suicide prior to exhibiting bulimia signs. However, those with bulimia nervosa are less likely to follow through with committing suicide, except as an impulsive attempt as opposed to a planned attempt.
Eating Disorders & Depression
So why is it that people who have anorexia symptoms are more likely to commit suicide than others - either healthy or with diagnosed psychiatric disorders? First, it's because upwards of 90% of people with eating disorders also have depression warning signs and are diagnosed with depression. The risk of suicide in the depressed population is already much higher than in a population that is not depressed.
Therapists and Loved Ones May Miss the Signs
There is another aspect of anorexia symptoms and bulimia signs and other ednos symptoms that may add to suicide silence. While therapists and loved ones are focusing on the symptoms of eating disorders that can lead to cardiac arrest and other medical complications of eating disorders (thus leading to sudden death), they may miss the active suicide warning signs the person is exhibiting. Also remember that symptoms of eating disorders tend to be secretive to begin with, so someone with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa might be so secretive that their plans of suicide are hidden from those who love them.
If you have thoughts of suicide - whether it's what I term suicide silence or active suicide thoughts, please call a suicide hotline immediately. Call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) or 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) in the US.
