Factors That Increase Risk of Suicide
- Marital Status
Persons married with children are at lowest risk, persons never married are highest, and intermediate are persons widowed, separated or divorced. Risk is high during first 6-12 months of marital loss.
- Age
Risk for completed suicide rises steadily with age to 55-65 for women and 75-85 for men. Early peak during adolescences, ages 15-19 years. Predominant age group for attempts is 20-35. Fifty percent of attempters are under age 30.
- Sex
Completed suicides 3 times more common among men. Attempted unsuccessful suicides 3 times more common among women.
- Religion
Higher rates among Protestants than Catholic and Jews.
- Ethnic Background
Higher among immigrants, especially from countries with high suicide rates. Japan, Hungary and Sweden.
- Isolation
Higher among persons living alone without social or familial ties.
- Insomnia
Severe insomnia, even without depression, if unrelieved may lead to suicidal action.
- Drugs & Alcohol
Have an effect that may "release" latent depression and suicidal urges that are otherwise self- controlled.
- Family History
Especially if parent of same sex died by suicide.
- Previous attempts
10% unsuccessful attempters eventually succeed. Higher risk if earlier tries were dangerous acts.
- Recent loss
Loss of loved person, prestige or position, self-esteem
- Recent Childbirth
Post-partum depression may not be evident.
- Mental status
Presence of depression, intent to die, formulated suicidal plan, statement that personal affair have been arranged, personal belongings given away or sold, by end of interview patient looks tense and is unable to plan any alternative immediate course of action (e.g., cannot commit to return to discuss his/her problem further).
Approximately 15% of depressive patients ultimately commit suicide. But 80% of persons who commit suicide give definite warning signs about their intent. An examination of the literature reveals a number of pre-suicidal indicators:
- expression of suicidal thoughts
- prior suicidal attempts
- giving away prized possessions
- depression over broken relationships
- despair over a chronic illness or personal problems
- change in eating or sleeping habits
- marked personality change
- abuse of alcohol or drugs
- a sense of hopelessness
- being anxiety prone
- experiencing of social exclusion (e.g., romantic breakups, loss of employment)
- feelings of guilt or self-shame
- shame over personal failure
- insecurity about one's capabilities
- feelings of worthlessness
- depressed mood
- preoccupation with self
- sense of time drastically limited to the present
- thinking becomes extremely concrete and rigid
- thought processes become inflexible
- creative problem-solving capabilities curtailed
- goals become extremely short-term
- behavior impulsive, lack of anticipated consequences
- passivity, tendency to deny responsibility for one's action
- identify with the role of victim
- suicidal history in family members
- suicidal plan
- availability of weapons
- high frequency of recent stressful events
- high expectations followed by a failure to live up to those expectations