PsychologyJuly 6, 2026
ideation
/ˌaɪdiˈeɪʃən/
Definition
The act of forming ideas or thoughts, specifically referring to the formation of thoughts about suicide in a clinical mental health context.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek 'idea' (form, pattern) and the Latin suffix '-atio' (the act of). It entered English in the 19th century as a psychological term for the process of forming or entertaining an idea.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe a critical sign of mental health crisis that AI chatbots often fail to detect. Identifying suicidal ideation is a primary safety concern when evaluating the reliability of AI for psychological support.
How Can Tech Companies and Practitioners Work Together to Safely Provide Mental Health Care Using AI?
Read the full article ↗American Academy of Arts and Sciences