Title: Suicide Warning Signs and Risk Factors
Headings: Suicide Risk Factors and Warning Signs
Suicide Risk Factors and Warning Signs
Risk Factors
Life Situations
Emotional and Behavioral Changes
Types of Suicide Risk Factors
Warning Signs
If You See Warning Signs
Safety Plan
Suicide Prevention
Be Alert
Communicate
Show Support
A Note About Warning Signs

Content: Suicide accounts for about 1.5% of all worldwide deaths. Other psychiatric conditions including substance use disorders, anxiety disorders, and psychosis can also be risk factors for suicide. 2 ﻿ While there is a strong relationship between mental health and suicide and the risk is serious, it is important to remember that the majority of people with mental health conditions do not attempt or complete suicide. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 54% of people who die by suicide did not have a known mental health condition. 3 ﻿
The best way to prevent suicide, according to Suicide Prevention Resources, is to make sure you know the risk factors and warning signs of suicide. 4 ﻿
Risk Factors
Risk factors can include both the situations a person experiences and how the person is feeling internally. Though it may be easier to recognize situations and times when suicide is more common, understanding how someone is feeling inside requires a little more detective work. Life Situations
Certain conditions and situations are associated with an increased risk of suicide, including: Death or terminal illness of a relative or friend
Divorce, separation, or the breakup of a relationship
Loss of health (real or imagined)
Loss of job, home, money, status, self-esteem, or personal security
Drug or alcohol misuse
Depression
In addition, there are certain times when people may be more prone to suicidal feelings, such as: Holidays and anniversaries
The first week after discharge from a hospital
When treatment with an antidepressant first begins
Just before and after diagnosis of a major illness (for example, the risk of suicide in cancer patients is highest shortly after diagnosis rather than after cancer has spread or progressed) 5 ﻿
Just before and during disciplinary proceedings
Emotional and Behavioral Changes
Emotionally, the suicidal person may be feeling: