Title: Risk factors and warning signs | AFSP
Headings: Risk factors and warning signs
Risk factors and warning signs
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What leads to suicide?
Suicide risk factors
Risk factor: Health
Risk factor: Environmental
Risk factor: Historical
Suicide warning signs
Warning sign: Talk
Warning sign: Behavior
Warning sign: Mood

Content: There’s no single cause for suicide. Suicide most often occurs when stressors and health issues converge to create an experience of hopelessness and despair. Depression is the most common condition associated with suicide, and it is often undiagnosed or untreated. Conditions like depression, anxiety, and substance problems, especially when unaddressed, increase risk for suicide. Yet it’s important to note that most people who actively manage their mental health conditions go on to engage in life. Suicide risk factors
Risk factors are characteristics or conditions that increase the chance that a person may try to take their life. Risk factor: Health
Mental health conditions
Depression
Substance use problems
Bipolar disorder
Schizophrenia
Personality traits of aggression, mood changes and poor relationships
Conduct disorder
Anxiety disorders
Serious physical health conditions including pain
Traumatic brain injury
Risk factor: Environmental
Access to lethal means including firearms and drugs
Prolonged stress, such as harassment, bullying, relationship problems or unemployment
Stressful life events, like rejection, divorce, financial crisis, other life transitions or loss
Exposure to another person’s suicide, or to graphic or sensationalized accounts of suicide
Risk factor: Historical
Previous suicide attempts
Family history of suicide
Childhood abuse, neglect or trauma
Suicide warning signs
Something to look out for when concerned that a person may be suicidal is a change in behavior or the presence of entirely new behaviors.