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Suicide Prevention

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Need to talk to someone right now?

Call or text 988 or Text HOME to 741741

A Note from the Community

If you are reading this in the middle of a cycle, in the middle of an attack, or in the quiet aftermath when the fear of the next one is closing in, please know this: the pain you are experiencing is real, it is one of the worst things a human body can endure, and the fact that you have survived this long is a measure of your strength, not your weakness.

Cluster headache has a name in the medical community that none of us asked for. The suicide headache. It is not called that for poetic reasons. It is called that because the pain is severe enough and unrelenting enough that nearly seven out of ten people with cluster headache have experienced thoughts of ending their life during an attack.

If that has been you, you are not broken. You are not alone. You are reacting to one of the most painful conditions known to medicine. There is help, and there are people in this community who have stood exactly where you are standing and are still here.

Whether you are reading this for yourself or for someone you love, please know that this community sees you. We have lost members of this community to cluster headache. We are not pretending otherwise. We are also still here, fighting for better treatments, better doctors, better research, and a better life for every person living with this condition.

You matter to us. We hope you will stay.

Crisis Resources

If You Need Help Right Now

United States: Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Free. Available 24/7.

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing: 1-800-799-4889 for the National Deaf Hotline.

Outside the U.S.? The International Association for Suicide Prevention maintains a more comprehensive global directory.

If you or someone with you has already taken action to harm themselves, call 911 or your local emergency number and stay with the person until help arrives.

In 2012, Clusterbusters visited the offices of SAMHSA, the agency charged with reducing suicide in the United States. Following these meetings, and working with the agency, we, along with our medical associates drafted training materials for all suicide hotline operators. No longer are the suicide hotlines unaware of “suicide headaches” and how best to handle such calls.

If you are feeling suicidal…

Most people in this community who have had these thoughts describe them the same way. They do not want to die. They want the pain to stop. They want to kill the Beast, not themselves. If that distinction lives somewhere inside you, hold onto it. The Beast is the enemy. You are not.

Things that can help right now:

Reach out. Call 988 or text HOME to 741741 in the U.S., or use the international list below. The volunteers at these lines have been briefed on cluster headache thanks to work Clusterbusters did with SAMHSA. If a volunteer does not understand what you are going through, you can ask for someone else or hang up and call back. You deserve to be heard by someone who gets it.

Tell someone you trust. A partner, a family member, a friend, a faith leader, anyone. You do not have to explain cluster headache. You just have to say "I am not okay right now."

Make the space around you safer. If you can, ask a trusted person to temporarily hold onto anything that could cause harm. This is not weakness. It is one of the most evidence-based things a person in crisis can do to stay safe.

Find your community. Clusterbuds and the Clusterbusters Forums are full of people who have been where you are. You can also contact the Clusterbusters team. There is real value in talking to someone who does not need cluster headache explained to them.

Hold onto the truth that every attack ends. You have survived every single one so far. The math is on your side, even when the pain is not. This one will end too.

Get back to your treatments. If you have not yet tried high-flow oxygen, please read our Oxygen Therapy page. If your current treatment plan is not working, our Finding Care page can help you find a doctor who will take you seriously. Effective treatment exists. The hard part is finding it.

There are several ways to find assistance:

A Note for Students

Mental illnesses and suicides spike on campus. What is surprising, however; is that only 25% of college students seek help for their mental health problems.
In order to help students who have considered, or previously attempted, suicide as they make their way to college, a comprehensive guide has been designed that aims to:

  • Lower the stigma associated with suicide, depression, and getting help
    Highlight suicide risk factors, warning signs, and high-risk populations
  • Demonstrate how to find a college with strong mental health resources
    Suicide Prevention Guide.

How to Cope with Suicidal Thoughts and Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches have an intimate relationship with suicidality being nicknamed “Suicide Headaches.” When it comes to thoughts of killing oneself, clusterheads are more likely to want to kill the “beast,” meaning the pain itself, not themselves. When you’re in the throes of a cluster headache cycle and getting up to eight attacks every single day, you can reach desperation quickly. Remember that each attack will end. You survived the last one, and you will survive this one too, and there are throngs of other clusterheads who understand your pain and want to help you get better.

Connecting with other patients going through the same circumstances as you can greatly improve your condition both psychologically and physically. Clusterbuds and the Clusterbusters Forums are full of people who have been where you are. You can also contact the Clusterbusters team.  There are many treatment hacks and tips you won’t hear from your doctor that cluster patients swear by such as using energy drinks or energy shots to abort an attack at onset or using oxygen at a lower flow after an attack to prolong the time between attacks.

If you’re in a critical situation where suicide seems the only option, follow these steps:

Call your local or national suicide prevention phone number (see next section) or emergency department to speak with a mental health professional.

Speak with someone you trust and maintain regular communication, which could be a family member, friend, church, spiritual leader, or support groups. Clusterbuds and the Clusterbusters Forums are full of people who have been where you are. You can also contact the Clusterbusters team.

Take care of your body through regular exercise and walks, trying something new, and getting proper rest and nutrition. (Although, sleep is a trigger for cluster headaches, which compounds the issue.)

Practice self-care, including spending time with people you enjoy, avoiding getting “overwhelmed” with projects at work or school, and learning coping techniques.

Do something you enjoy, like playing with animals, going out to eat, or watching your favorite movie.

What to Do If a Loved One is Contemplating Suicide

It is a myth that people who plan to attempt suicide don’t talk about it beforehand. Research studies have shown that people do bring it up, even as a joke. If you are concerned that someone you know may be thinking of suicide, you can help.
Remember, as a helper, do not promise to do anything you do not want to do or that you cannot do.

If the person is actively suicidal, get help immediately. Call your local crisis service or the police, or take the person to the emergency room of your local hospital. Do not leave the person alone.

If the person has attempted suicide and needs medical attention, call 9-1-1 or your local emergency services number.

Avoiding the topic or staying silent about suicidal thoughts may make the circumstances worse. Many times, the situation is nowhere near as bleak as one believes it is in their head and talking about it can help. Mental health experts recommend these steps, according to the National Institute of Mental Health:

  • Ask him or her if they’re thinking about killing themselves directly to open a dialogue.
  • Pay close attention to the conversation and how your loved one is feeling and don’t leave them alone.
  • Remove your loved one from an environment that could be lethal such as removing a weapon or dangerous object from the premises.
  • Connect them with a suicide prevention specialist that’s central to your country. In the U.S., the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. International outlets can be found at the bottom of this page.
  • Keep in touch with your family member or friend who is in crisis to make sure they know they’re loved, and that life is valuable.

Cluster headache attacks come on quickly, and the pain is likened to a hot poker, ice pick, or “brain freeze” that lasts hours, several times a day. It’s very common for suicidal thoughts to come up during attacks, and for some, during remission. Clusterheads live in fear of the next attack and are constantly concerned about available treatments to stop the pain.

When comforting someone with cluster headaches, please avoid comments that diminish the condition such as, “I’ve had one of those,” “Have you tried Excedrin Migraine?” or “Maybe you need to drink more water.” Remember that this is an established medical condition that is considered one of the most painful things a human being can experience and wanting to end the pain is a natural response.

Your reaction in these circumstances can provide a much-needed support system. Family and friends may play a critical role in suicide prevention as a sense of belonging, and understanding, along with supportive relationships and self-identity, can decrease the likelihood of self-harm.

Additional suggestions for helping someone who is suicidal include:

  • Listen actively to what the person is saying to you. Remain calm and do not judge what you are being told. Do not advise the person not to feel the way they are.
  • Reassure the person that there is help for their problems and reassure them that they are not “bad” or “stupid” because they are thinking about suicide.
  • Help the person break down their problem(s) into more manageable pieces. It is easier to deal with one problem at a time.
  • Emphasize that there are ways other than suicide to solve problems. Help the person to explore these options, for example, ask them what else they could do to change their situation.
  • Offer to investigate counseling services.
  • Do not agree to keep the person’s suicidal thoughts or plans a secret. Helping someone who is suicidal can be very stressful. Get help – ask family members and friends for their assistance and to share the responsibility.
  • Suggest that the person see a doctor for a complete physical. Although there are many things that family and friends can do to help, there may be underlying medical problems that require professional intervention. Your doctor can also refer patients to a psychiatrist, if necessary.
  • Try to get the person to see a trained counselor. Do not be surprised if the person refuses to go to a counselor – but be persistent. There are many types of caregivers for the suicidal. If the person will not go to a psychologist, or a psychiatrist, suggest, for example, they talk to a clergyperson, a guidance counselor or a teacher.

We hope these suggestions will help you. Don’t forget to check your phone directory for the number of the local crisis service.

Why Are Cluster Headaches Nicknamed Suicide Headaches?

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people between ten and 34 according to the American Psychological Association. What’s more, is that suicidal ideations are more common in cluster headache patients, particularly during an attack. The largest cluster headache survey conducted found that 69 percent of the 2,270 patients surveyed had “some degree of suicidal ideations” during a cluster headache attack, compared to 31 percent who experienced these thoughts when in remission or out of cycle. Initial research into the suicidality in cluster headache patients by Clusterbusters in the early 2000s found that suicide attempts were 20 times the national average, which is why cluster headaches are commonly nicknamed “Suicide Headaches.”

There could be many reasons for the higher rate of suicidal thoughts and attempts in cluster headache patients such as the isolation and inability to sleep, but the severity of the pain is the most likely culprit. In a 2020 survey, patients rated cluster headaches a 9.65 out of ten, compared to:

Cluster headache 9.65 / 10
Childbirth 7.15 / 10
Pancreatitis 7.63 / 10
Kidney stones 6.58 / 10
Gunshot wound 6.51 / 10
Migraine 5.55 / 10
Shingles 4.58 / 10

Despite the excruciating nature of these attacks, there are effective treatments, and you have a wealth of support at your hands. Cluster headache patients contemplating suicide are not alone in these thoughts. You may be isolated and in pain, but you are never alone. There are thousands of people just like you who are available nearly 24/7 to provide support. Clusterbusters has worked with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the U.S. to help volunteers speak with clusterheads who are in the middle of an attack and/or considering harming themselves.If you reach a volunteer who does not seem to understand, you can ask for someone else.