Risk Factors
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- History of Suicide Attempts
Twenty to Fifty percent of people who commit suicide have attempted suicide. Those who have seriously attemped suicide have a much higher success rate.
- Psychiatric Disorders
Those with disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, substance abuse(combined with depression), and personality disorders.
- Genetics
People that have a history of suicide, depression or other mental illnesses.
- Impulsive nature
- Neurotransmitters
- Demographics
People who may tend to make abrupt or unexpected decisions are more likely to act on suicidal impulses.
Medical studies have found a realtionship between low amounts of serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleactic acid (5-HIAA) in cerebrospinal fluid and increased occurrences in sucidal attempts and completitions in those with diagnosed mental disorders.
Males are 3 to 5 times more likely to commit sucide than females. Also elderly white males have the highest suicide rates.
- Hopelessness
- History of trauma or abuse
- Major Physical Illness
- Major Life Change
- Lack of support and a sense of isolation
- Limited access to health care for mental health
- Access to lethal means
This can include such things as the loss of a job, loss of a family member or friend, financial problems, or the end of a romantic relationship.
Lethal means such as firearms or prescription drugs.
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