Frameworks - Individual Risk Factors* for Suicide
See also: Community Risk Factors, Individual Protective Factors, and Community Protective Factors.
What is an individual risk factor* for suicide?
Risk factors are characteristics statistically associated with a health risk (suicide). Risk factors do not predict imminent danger for a particular person, rather they are an indication that an individual may be a higher than normal risk. Some risk factors may be readily observable to an outside observer while other risk factors would not necessarily be readily observable to someone that casually knows the individual. Many risk factors are uncovered during the process of a professional screening or evaluation that includes asking the person directly about the particular factor (e.g. history of trauma or abuse) or by having access to a comprehensive social or medical history of the individual. These risk factors do not necessarily apply only to suicide; the majority of them are risk factors for a variety of other health issues, like depression and substance abuse.
*Although many of these Risk Factors are youth-specific (e.g. “run away from home”), the majority of these Risk Factors also apply to adults.
Personal Risk Factors for Suicide
• Alcohol and other drug abuse
• Isolation
• Mental illness (depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, personality disorder)
• Poor impulse control
• Confusion or conflict about sexual orientation
• Compulsive, extreme perfectionism
• Deficits in social skills (e.g. decision-making, conflict and anger management, problem solving).
• Loss (perceived or real) of identity or status
• Feelings of powerlessness, hopelessness, or helplessness
• Pregnancy or fear of pregnancy
• Exaggerated humiliation or fear of humiliation
• Certain religious beliefs e.g. that suicide is noble
Behavioral Risk Factors
• Prior suicide attempt
• Aggression, rage, defiance
• Run away from home
• School failure, truancy
• Fascination with death and violence
Family Risk Factors
• Family history of suicide
• Changes in family structure e.g. death, divorce, remarriage etc.
• Family involvement in alcoholism or other drug abuse
• Lack of strong bonding/attachment within the family
• Withdrawal of support
• Unrealistic parental expectations
• Violent, destructive parent-child interactions
• Inconsistent, unpredictable parental behavior
• Depressed, suicidal parents
• Abuse e.g. physical, emotional, or sexual
Environmental Risk Factors
• Stigma associated with help seeking
• Lack of access to helping services
• Access to lethal means e.g. firearms
• Frequent moves and changes in living situation
• Social Isolation or alienation from peers
• Exposure to suicide of a peer
• Anniversary of someone else’s suicide
• Incarceration or loss of freedom; trouble with the law
• High levels of stress, including the pressure to succeed
• High levels of exposure to violence in mass media
This list of risk factors was developed by the National Center for Suicide Prevention Training.
For more information go to http://www.ncspt.org
