Risk Factors Associated With Warning Signs

 

Research has found that 46% of people who die by suicide had a known mental health condition. Several other things may put a person at risk of suicide, including:

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• A family history of suicide

• Substance use disorder. Drugs and alcohol can create mental highs and lows that worsen suicidal thoughts.

• Intoxication. More than 1 in 3 people who die from suicide are under the influence of alcohol at the time of death.

• Access to lethal weapons

• A serious or chronic medical illness

• Gender. Although more women than men attempt suicide, men are nearly 4x more likely to die by suicide.

• A history of trauma or abuse

• Prolonged stress

• A recent tragedy or loss

• Grief

• Sexual orientation

• Previous suicide attempts

• Mental illness

• Social Anxiety

• Elder abuse

• Untreated diagnosis

• Feelings of being a burden to others

• Feeling trapped

• Impulsive or aggressive tendencies

• Job problems or loss

• Social isolation

• Criminal problems

• Financial problems

• Serious illness

• Lack of access to behavioral care and medicine

• Adverse childhood experiences such as child abuse and neglect

• Stigma associated with mental illness or help-seeking

• Talking about suicide — for example, making statements such as "I'm going to kill myself," "I wish I were dead" or "I wish I hadn't been born"

• Getting the means to take your own life, such as buying a gun or stockpiling pills

• Withdrawing from social contact and wanting to be left alone

• Having mood swings, such as being emotionally high one day and deeply discouraged the next

• Being preoccupied with death, dying or violence

• Feeling trapped or hopeless about a situation

• Increasing use of alcohol or drugs

• Changing normal routine, including eating or sleeping patterns

• Doing risky or self-destructive things, such as using drugs or driving recklessly

• Giving away belongings or getting affairs in order when there is no other logical explanation for doing this

• Saying goodbye to people as if they won't be seen again

• Developing personality changes or being severely anxious or agitated, particularly when experiencing some of the warning signs listed above

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