Frameworks Youth Suicide Prevention - Risk Factors
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 of 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
