Longitudinal study of suicidality and health-related quality of life.
Suicidal ideation significantly lowered mental, not physical, HRQoL at baseline.
Mental HRQoL was poorer for those initially suicidal, remaining so over future waves.
Poorer mental HRQoL was associated with higher odds of ideation onset.
Findings help understand the HRQoL impacts of suicidality relative to other health conditions.