NORTHERN NEVADA Public Health Serving Reno, Sparks & Washoe County

Invitations, Risks and Protective Factors of Suicide

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Invitations, Risks and Protective Factors of Suicide

Warning Signs of Suicide

The behaviors listed below may be some of the signs that someone is thinking about suicide.

Talking about:
  • Wanting to die
  • Great guilt or shame
  • Being a burden to others
Feeling:
  • Empty, hopeless, trapped, or having no reason to live
  • Extremely sad, more anxious, agitated, or full of rage
  • Unbearable emotional or physical pain
Changing behavior, such as:
  • Making a plan or researching ways to die
  • Withdrawing from friends, saying goodbye, giving away important items, or making a will
  • Taking dangerous risks such as driving extremely fast
  • Displaying extreme mood swings
  • Eating or sleeping more or less
  • Using drugs or alcohol more often

If these warning signs apply to you or someone you know, get help as soon as possible, particularly if the behavior is new or has increased recently.

(Source: National Institute of Mental Health)

Warning Signs of Suicide (English | Español)

 

Circumstances that increase risk of Suicide

Individual Risk Factors

These personal factors contribute to risk:

  • Previous suicide attempt
  • History of depression and other mental illness
  • Criminal/legal problems
  • Job/ financial problems or loss
  • Substance use
  • Current or prior history of adverse childhood experiences
  • Sense of hopelessness
  • Violence victimization and/or perpetration

Relationship Risk Factors

These harmful or hurtful experiences within a relationship contribute to risk:

  • Bulling
  • Family/loved one's history of suicide
  • Loss of relationships
  • High conflict or violent relationships
  • Social Isolation

Community Risk Factors
These challenging issues within a person's community contribute to risk:
  • Lack of access to healthcare
  • Suicide cluster in the community
  • Stress of acculturation
  • Community Violence
  • Historical trauma
  • Discrimination

Societal Risk Factors

These cultural and environmental factors within the larger society contribute to risk:
  • Stigma associated with help-seeking and mental illness
  • Easy access to lethal means of suicide among people at risk
  • Unsafe media portrayals of suicide

 

Circumstances that protect against suicide risk

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Individual Protective Factors

These personal factors protect against suicide risk:

  • Effective coping and problem-solving skills
  • Reasons for living (for example, family, friends, pets, etc.)
  • Strong sense of cultural identity

Relationship Protective Factors

These healthy relationship experiences protect against suicide risk:

  • Support from partners, friends, and family
  • Feeling connected to others

Community Protective Factors
These supportive community experiences protect against suicide risk:
  • Feeling connected to school, community, and other social institutions
  • Availability of consistent and high quality physical and behavioral healthcare

Societal Protective Factors:

These cultural and environmental factors within the larger society protect against suicide risk:

  • Reduced access to lethal means of suicide among people at risk
  • Cultural, religious, or moral objections to suicide

 (Source: Centers for Disease Control)

 

 WSPA Partners

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Last modified on 10/13/2023