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: 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: 6 ﻿
Overwhelming pain
Hopelessness
Powerlessness
Worthlessness, shame, guilt, or self-hatred
Fear of losing control and harming themselves or others
Behaviorally, the person may: 6 ﻿
Appear sad, withdrawn, tired, apathetic, anxious, irritable, or prone to angry outbursts
Not be performing well in school, work, or other activities
Become socially isolated or fall in with the "wrong crowd"
Have declining interest in sex, friends, or activities previously enjoyed
Neglect personal welfare or let their appearance go
Experience a change in eating or sleeping habits
Types of Suicide Risk Factors
There are two different types of suicide risk factors: proximal risk factors and distal risk factors . Proximal risk factors are immediate signs that signal that a suicide attempt may take place such as recent suicidal thoughts, feelings of hopelessness, recent stressful life events, access to firearms, and learning about someone else dying by suicide. Distal factors are background issues or events that can increase the risk of suicide such as comorbid psychiatric conditions, a family history of suicide, and a history of previous suicide attempts.