Title: Suicide and suicidal thoughts - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
Headings: Suicide and suicidal thoughts
Suicide and suicidal thoughts
Overview
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Symptoms
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Causes
Risk factors
Children and teenagers
Murder and suicide
Starting antidepressants and increased suicide risk
Teen suicide prevention
Reach out — Preventing teen suicide
Complications
Prevention
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Suicide and suicidal thoughts

Content: Reach out to a close friend or loved one — even though it may be hard to talk about your feelings
Contact a minister, spiritual leader or someone in your faith community
Call a suicide hotline
Make an appointment with your doctor, other health care provider or a mental health professional
Suicidal thinking doesn't get better on its own — so get help. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic
Causes
Suicidal thoughts have many causes. Most often, suicidal thoughts are the result of feeling like you can't cope when you're faced with what seems to be an overwhelming life situation. If you don't have hope for the future, you may mistakenly think suicide is a solution. You may experience a sort of tunnel vision, where in the middle of a crisis you believe suicide is the only way out. There also may be a genetic link to suicide. People who complete suicide or who have suicidal thoughts or behavior are more likely to have a family history of suicide. Risk factors
Although attempted suicide is more frequent for women, men are more likely than women to complete suicide because they typically use more-lethal methods, such as a firearm. You may be at risk of suicide if you: Attempted suicide before
Feel hopeless, worthless, agitated, socially isolated or lonely
Experience a stressful life event, such as the loss of a loved one, military service, a breakup, or financial or legal problems
Have a substance abuse problem — alcohol and drug abuse can worsen thoughts of suicide and make you feel reckless or impulsive enough to act on your thoughts
Have suicidal thoughts and have access to firearms in your home
Have an underlying psychiatric disorder, such as major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or bipolar disorder
Have a family history of mental disorders, substance abuse, suicide, or violence, including physical or sexual abuse
Have a medical condition that can be linked to depression and suicidal thinking, such as chronic disease, chronic pain or terminal illness
Are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender with an unsupportive family or in a hostile environment
Children and teenagers
Suicide in children and teenagers can follow stressful life events.