TMS Effective For Reducing Suicidal Thoughts

Sam Clinch • June 11, 2024

Suicidal thoughts are an unfortunately common symptom affecting millions of people worldwide, with mental health disorders like depression often acting as a catalyst. Recently, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) has emerged as a promising therapeutic option for individuals grappling with suicidal ideation. This non-invasive procedure has shown remarkable efficacy in alleviating the burden of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts, offering a glimmer of hope to those who desperately need it.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that uses magnetic fields to stimulate neurons in the brain. In short, TMS works by modulating neural activity in the prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain associated with mood regulation. By targeting these brain regions, TMS therapy aims to rebalance neural circuits, offering relief from the debilitating symptoms of depression and suicidal thoughts.

Several studies have explored the effectiveness of TMS in addressing suicidal ideation. Research has shown that individuals who received TMS treatment experience a significant reduction in suicidal thoughts compared to those who underwent a placebo procedure. 

In order to measure response to TMS treatment at Inspire TMS Denver , we use patient self-reported rating scales to determine severity of symptoms. Patients rate their symptoms before, during, and after TMS treatment. The specific rating scale we commonly use is the PHQ-9 scale. This scale contains a series of statements and asks the patient to rate a symptom on a scale of 0-3 (0 being not at all, 1 being several days, 2 being more than half the days, and 3 being nearly every day). One such symptom is, “Thoughts that you would be better off dead or of hurting yourself in some way.” In our clinic, we examined our patient’s response to this question as a measure of TMS efficacy for suicidal thoughts.


After treatment, there was an average 82% decrease in report of suicidal thoughts compared to prior to treatment.


Additionally, 69% of patients who reported suicidal thoughts before treatment reported none after treatment (0 on the PHQ-9), and 92% of our patients ended with a “1” or less.


TMS continues to be a promising option for patients struggling with depression, and significantly reduces suicidal thoughts based on randomized control trials and real world results. We are seeing great results in our clinic for reducing suicidal thoughts. Please contact us if you are interested in learning more about TMS treatment. If you or someone you know is struggling with imminent suicide risk, please call or text to 988 - the
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline .

Every Question Answered

Want to know more about TMS? Check out this in-depth guide to TMS therapy with transparent and easy to understand explanations about TMS processes, protocols, and treated conditions.

Latest Posts

By Sam Clinch December 13, 2025
Quick summary (the short answers) Medicare: Often covers TMS for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder when the plan’s clinical criteria (such as prior medication trials) are met and prior authorization is approved. Inspire routinely helps patients with Medicare benefits checks and authorizations. Medicaid: Coverage varies by state . Some state Medicaid plans cover TMS with strict medical necessity criteria; others do not. Inspire collects your insurance details and runs a state-specific benefits check. Pre-authorization: Nearly always required. Insurers want documented prior treatment attempts, objective symptom measures (PHQ-9), and a psychiatrist’s letter of medical necessity. Inspire will run the authorization for you once you approve.
By Sam Clinch December 12, 2025
What Inspire TMS Denver accepts and what that means In-network / insurer relationships: Inspire states it accepts major commercial insurers and works with patients to obtain coverage - including Medicare and Tricare, where criteria are met - and the clinic routinely runs benefits checks and prior authorizations on a patient’s behalf. That means you don’t need to guess whether a policy will pay - Inspire will verify for you. Common Medicare / commercial rules (examples): Different payers have specific clinical criteria. For example (from the clinic’s pricing documents): Anthem - typically requires failure of two different antidepressants from different classes (or intolerance). Medicare -may require failure of one previous antidepressant (or intolerance) Tricare - covers TMS when it is medically necessary and prior less-intensive interventions have failed or are inappropriate. These examples illustrate typical insurer frameworks, but your plan may differ. What’s often covered vs not covered: Commonly covered: FDA-cleared TMS for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder when prior treatment criteria are met and prior authorization is approved. Often not covered (or considered “off-label”): accelerated TMS protocols , certain indications (some anxiety/insomnia/experimental uses), and some PTSD/anxiety uses; these may require self-pay or sliding-scale payment. Inspire notes it offers sliding-scale/self-pay for off-label care and for financial hardship.
By Sam Clinch December 12, 2025
How TMS is different: a quick, plain-language explanation TMS uses a magnetic coil to stimulate specific areas of the brain associated with mood and emotional control. It’s non-invasive, does not require anesthesia, and is performed in an outpatient setting. Instead of changing chemistry like antidepressants or providing a rapid but medication-based reset like ketamine , TMS aims to retrain brain circuits by repeatedly activating under-performing regions so they function more normally over time. Inspire’s patient materials stress this neuroplastic, circuit-based approach and describe mapping, stimulation and physician oversight used to personalize treatment.
By Sam Clinch December 11, 2025
What is “treatment-resistant depression” (TRD)? Clinically, TRD is commonly defined as depression that has not sufficiently responded to an adequate trial of two different antidepressants (from at least two different classes) given at therapeutic doses and durations. Some insurers and clinical guidelines use this “two-trial” rule when deciding whether to cover advanced treatments like TMS. Medicare and commercial payers may have slightly different wording (for example, Medicare sometimes requires one failed antidepressant; Anthem often requires two). The key idea is consistent: TRD means standard medication strategies haven’t produced an acceptable response.
By Sam Clinch December 10, 2025
Your main options while you’re in Colorado Short/accelerated courses If you have very limited time, accelerated TMS (iTBS or compressed protocols) lets clinics deliver many sessions over a few days rather than weeks. Inspire offers accelerated regimens (MagVenture-capable) and lists accelerated TMS as an option for patients who need a fast course, but note: accelerated courses are often not covered by insurance and usually require self-pay or sliding-scale arrangements. Maintenance or “rescue” sessions Maintenance or “rescue” sessions If you’ve completed a full course and need occasional boosters to maintain gains while away, maintenance TMS (weekly, biweekly, or monthly sessions) is common. Clinics also provide rescue or extension courses when symptoms re-emerge. Maintenance often requires a clinician discussion to set frequency, and many insurers do not routinely cover maintenance so clinics may offer packages or discounted session bundles. Full course continuation If your original acute course was interrupted, many clinics will pick up or adjust your plan; this typically requires review of previous mapping and progress measures and coordination with your home TMS provider. Inspire performs mapping and tailors plans to each patient’s needs.
Soldiers in uniform seated in a circle; one person comforts another, all in a support group setting.
By Sam Clinch December 9, 2025
Short answer: Yes — Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is increasingly used to treat PTSD symptoms, and many patients report improvements in intrusive memories (flashbacks), hypervigilance and reactivity. At Inspire TMS Denver we tailor TMS protocols to each person’s needs and monitor results closely, offering standard and advanced TMS options for trauma-related symptoms.
Woman in blue scrubs smiles in front of an
By Sam Clinch December 9, 2025
Who is this page for? If you’re searching “ TMS therapy near me ” because medications or therapy haven’t worked, this guide walks you through what TMS is, the types of TMS offered at Inspire TMS Denver, who qualifies, what a typical course looks like, cost & insurance realities, and real patient experiences so you can decide whether to book a free consultation. Inspire is a doctor-led clinic that specializes in evidence-based TMS and personalized care.
By Sam Clinch November 20, 2025
Recognizing the Signs of Bipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder is often misunderstood or misdiagnosed due to its fluctuating nature. Common signs include: Periods of extreme energy or euphoria (mania or hypomania) Sudden shifts to sadness, fatigue, or hopelessness (depression) Difficulty concentrating or making decisions Sleep disturbances (sleeping too much or too little) Impulsive or risky behavior Feelings of irritability or agitation  While everyone experiences mood shifts occasionally, those with bipolar disorder often find these changes disruptive to work, relationships, and daily life.
By Leo Cook November 18, 2025
If you’re struggling with depression, you’re not alone - and you’re likely asking: What actually works? That’s where TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) enters the conversation. Let’s break down how effective TMS really is - nationally and here at Inspire TMS Denver .
By Sam Clinch November 18, 2025
Understand Eligibility, Insurance, and Whether TMS Might Be Right for You
Show More