Which mental health condition is often linked with increased suicide risk?

Major depressive disorder is often linked with an increased suicide risk due to the profound impact it has on an individual's thoughts, emotions, and overall functioning. People experiencing major depression may have intense feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, and despair, which can lead to suicidal ideation. The disorder disrupts a person's ability to see potential for improvement in their circumstances, making them more vulnerable to thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

Additionally, major depressive disorder is one of the most common mental health issues associated with suicide, as it can severely impair a person's judgment and decision-making capabilities. Unlike some of the other conditions listed, major depression is marked by pervasive symptoms that can persist over long periods, increasing the likelihood of the individual contemplating suicide as a way to escape their suffering or emotional pain.

While anxiety, OCD, and PTSD can also be associated with suicide risk, they tend to have different presentations and underlying mechanisms. Anxiety might induce overwhelming fear or panic but doesn't consistently lead to the same depth of hopelessness seen in major depressive disorder. OCD symptoms can be distressing, but they often center on compulsions that may not directly correlate with suicidal thoughts. Similarly, PTSD is characterized by re-experiencing traumatic events and heightened arousal, and while it