Risk and Protective Factors

There are no big or small, serious or non-serious risk factors. There are no equations for balancing or weighing risk factors against protective factors. Some risk factors are more statistically significant and correlated with suicidal behaviors – but they don’t necessarily need to be present for someone to be suicidal. Some risk factors are “symptoms” – those expressions of emotion or feelings that are reported to you. Some risk factors are “signs” – those behaviors which are observed. Some people express their distress or despair in behavioral changes, some through their emotions.

The most common risk factors are:

• AGE
  Elderly Caucasian males and young adults (age 15-24 years)

• GENDER
  Males are three to five times more likely to die by suicide than females

• SEXUAL ORIENTATION
  GLBT individuals are at increased risk for suicidal behaviors

• PAST HISTORY OF SUICIDE ATTEMPTS
  Those who have made prior suicide attempts are at much higher risk for repeating the behavior
  

• PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS
  The following disorders all share increased risks for suicide:
  • Depression
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Anxiety
  • Schizophrenia
  • Alcohol or other substance abuse
  • Borderline personality disorder, and
  • Antisocial personality disorder

• ALCOHOL or OTHER DRUG ABUSE
  The abuse of alcohol or other drugs (legal or illegal) raises the risk of suicide

• GENETIC PREDISPOSITION
  A family history of suicide, depression, or other psychiatric disorder confers increased risk

• IMPULSIVITY
  Impulsive and/or aggressive individuals are more apt to act on suicidal impulses

• SUDDEN or UNEXPECTED PERSONAL LOSSES
  Individuals can feel overwhelmed or distraught after a sudden loss

• ACCESS TO LETHAL MEANS
  Particularly firearms and medications

Protective factors include:  

• Effective clinical care for mental, physical, and substance use disorders
  
• Easy access to a variety of interventions and support for help-seeking
  
• Restricted access to highly lethal methods of suicide
  
• Strong connections to family, friends, and community support
  
• Skills in problem-solving, conflict resolution, and nonviolent handling of disputes
  
• Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide and support self-preservation

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If you are concerned that you or someone you know may be at risk for suicide, we strongly encourage you to do one or more of the following:

• Contact a mental health provider on your campus or in your community
• Call 1-800-273-8255(TALK), the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, for a referral
• Call your college’s emergency number
• Call 911