Risk and Protective Factors for Suicide

Key points

• Suicide is rarely caused by a single circumstance or event.
• Many factors can increase or decrease the likelihood of suicide.
• Risk factors can increase the risk of suicide and protective factors can reduce the risk.

Many factors contribute to suicide risk

Suicide is not caused by a single factor. Instead, a combination of factors at the individual, relationship, community, and societal levels can increase or decrease the risk of suicide.

These risk factors are situations or problems that can increase the likelihood that a person will attempt suicide. However, they may or may not be direct causes.

Individual Risk Factors

These personal factors contribute to risk:

• Previous suicide attempt
• History of depression and other mental illnesses
• Serious illness such as chronic pain
• Criminal/legal problems
• Job/financial problems or loss
• Impulsive or aggressive tendencies
• Substance use
• Current or prior history of adverse childhood experiences
• Sense of hopelessness
• Violence victimization and/or perpetration

Relationship Risk Factors

These harmful or hurtful experiences within relationships contribute to risk:

• Bullying
• Family/loved one's history of suicide
• Loss of relationships
• High conflict or violent relationships
• Social isolation

Community Risk Factors

These challenging issues within a person's community contribute to risk:

• Lack of access to healthcare
• Suicide cluster in the community
• Stress caused by loss of traditional practices and changing beliefs
• Community violence
• Discrimination

Societal Risk Factors

These cultural and environmental factors within the larger society contribute to risk:

• Stigma associated with help-seeking and mental illness
• Easy access to lethal means of suicide among people at risk
• Unsafe media portrayals of suicide

Many factors protect against suicide risk

Similar to risk factors, a range of factors at the individual, relationship, community, and societal levels can protect people from suicide.

Protective factors are characteristics that may decrease the likelihood that a person will attempt suicide.

Individual Protective Factors

These personal factors protect against suicide risk:

• Effective coping and problem-solving skills
• Reasons for living (for example, family, friends, pets, etc.)
• Strong sense of cultural identity

Relationship Protective Factors

These healthy relationship experiences protect against suicide risk:

• Support from partners, friends, and family
• Feeling connected to others

Community Protective Factors

These supportive community experiences protect against suicide risk:

• Feeling connected to school, community, and other social institutions
• Availability of consistent and high quality physical and behavioral healthcare

Societal Protective Factors

These cultural and environmental factors within the larger society protect against suicide risk:

• Reduced access to lethal means of suicide among people at risk
• Cultural, religious, or moral objections to suicide

Prevention

Understanding and addressing risk and protective factors can help identify various opportunities for prevention.

We can take action in communities and as a society to support people and help protect them from suicidal thoughts and behavior.

Learn more about how everyone can help prevent suicide.

Hotline information

Call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

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