Understanding Suicide: Risk Factors, Prevention, and How to Get Help

Suicide is among the top nine leading causes of death in the United States for people ages 10 to 64. (1) It’s a complex problem with significant economic and human costs to individuals, families, and communities, and it’s a public health crisis.

Suicide rates rose by nearly 33 percent between 1999 and 2019, with small decreases observed in 2019 and 2020. (1)

While certain mental health conditions raise the risk of suicide, the desire to end one’s life is rarely caused by any one thing. And while there are risk factors that can help identify people in need of extra support, and sometimes there are warning signs, all too often suicide seems to come out of nowhere. One reason is that diagnosing suicide risk isn’t as simple as performing a wellness check. And the red flags, if there are any at all, can be very subtle.

RELATED: Download the ‘Surviving the Suicide of a Loved One’ Companion PDF

While most people understand the term “suicide” to mean voluntarily taking one’s own life, the decision to stop living is one that people arrive at in many different ways. To increase understanding of what counts as suicidal behavior and to avoid confusion when discussing an individual’s self-harming behaviors, the following terminology is recommended: (2)

• Self-Directed Violence Behavior directed at oneself that deliberately results in injury, or potential injury, to oneself.
• Nonsuicidal Self-Directed Violence This includes behavior that is self-directed and intended to cause injury, or has the potential to cause injury but for which there is no evidence, implicit or explicit, of suicidal intent.
• Suicidal Self-Directed Violence This includes behavior that is self-directed and intended to cause injury, or has the potential to cause injury with evidence, implicit or explicit, of suicidal intent.
• Undetermined Self-Directed Violence Behavior that is self-directed and intended to cause injury to oneself, but evidence of suicidal intent is unclear.
• Suicide Attempt This is a nonfatal self-directed injurious behavior with an attempt to die. A suicide attempt does not always lead to death.
• Interrupted Self-Directed Violence A person takes steps to injure themself, but stops or is stopped by another person.

Some people may not have attempted self-directed violence but think about doing so. This is called suicidal thought or ideation. Suicidal thoughts can be: (3)

• Passive A person has thoughts of death but no desire or plan to harm themselves. This often looks like thoughts about one’s own death, thoughts that one would be better off dead, indifference about life, or a passive wish to die, like wanting to sleep forever or wishing for a disease or accident. Although passive suicidal ideation may not be imminently dangerous, it can still be harmful over time, as it could lead to reckless behavior or progress to more active thoughts of suicide.
• Active A person has suicidal thoughts and at least some kind of plan to act on them. Active suicidal thoughts exist on a spectrum, and can range from wanting to end one’s own life to coming up with ideas about how to do this and forming an actual plan.

More than 45,979 Americans died by suicide in 2020 — the most recent year for which data is available. (1) In the same year, men died by suicide 3.88 times as often as women, and white men accounted for more than 69 percent of suicide deaths. (4)

Despite increased awareness and prevention efforts, suicide rates remain high. It’s recommended that high-risk people who verbalize suicidal thinking, make attempts, or are in a crisis that may lead to suicidal behavior receive mental health services. But such services are not a guaranteed preventive measure. By treating suicide as a public health issue, we can increase mental health services, as well as other preventive measures that address the population as a whole.

Many factors contribute to suicide among people with and without known mental health conditions. Generally speaking, the more risk factors an individual has, the higher their risk.

Approximately 1 in 5 adults experiences mental illness in a given year. (5) Though not all people who die by suicide were previously diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, there is a link between suicide and mental illness. (5)

Depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and substance abuse disorders are associated with an increased risk of suicidal behavior.

When someone is experiencing a depressive episode, a combination of biological and psychological factors may cause feelings of helplessness that make it difficult to envision a more positive past or future.

Research shows that alcohol use disorder is one of the strongest predictors of suicide. People with substance use disorders are about 6 times more likely to attempt suicide than the general population. (6) Older individuals with an addiction, individuals with both an addiction and a history of previous suicide attempts, heroin users, and those who abuse sedatives are at higher risk within the addiction population. (6)

A family history of suicide increases one’s odds of dying by suicide. (7)

Childhood trauma and abuse can be a predictor of suicidal thoughts. A 2017 study, for example, found a significant link between childhood sexual abuse and suicidal ideation in adults. (8)

Other factors associated with suicide include: (7)

• Relationship problems
• Problematic substance use
• Physical health issues or serious illnesses
• Job and financial problems
• Difficulty accessing healthcare
• Criminal or legal problems
• Unsafe media depictions of suicide

Young people are especially at risk for suicidal thoughts and behavior. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 14 and 25 and 34, and it’s the third-leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 15 and 24. (1)

If a child or adolescent has a number of risk factors, it’s imperative to get treatment early. Suicide can often be prevented if proper supports are quickly put in place. Among the risk factors that can affect young people: (9)

• A recent or serious loss, such as the death of a family member, friend, or pet
• A relationship breakup, the separation or divorce of parents, loss of a home, or financial problems affecting a family
• A psychiatric disorder, particularly depression or a traumatic-stress related disorder
• Previous suicide attempts
• Alcohol and other substance abuse disorders and other high-risk behaviors
• Family history of suicide
• Access to lethal means such as a firearm
• History of trauma such as physical or sexual abuse
• Social isolation or a lack of social support

Struggling with sexual orientation in an environment that isn’t supportive is an additional risk factor for suicide among youth. LGBTQ+ youth are more than 4 times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers. Additionally, 36 percent of LGBTQ+ youth reported that they have been physically threatened or harmed, and those who reported this attempted suicide at nearly triple the rate of those who did not in the past year. (10)

Between 2007 and 2017, the rate of suicide among Black youth increased faster than that of any other racial or ethnic group. (11) A report from the Congressional Black Caucus Emergency Task Force on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health states that Black youth under age 13 are 2 times as likely to die by suicide as their white peers. (11) Along with traditional risk factors, Black youth face additional risk factors, such as strain associated with racism and discrimination. (11)

RELATED: Black Mental Health: Elevating Voices to Fight Stigma and Build Trust

A study published in 2017 found a link between increased social media use among young adults and increased social isolation. While causation remains unclear, the study found that participants who spent more than two hours a day on social media had twice the odds of perceived social isolation than those who spent a half hour a day or less. (12)

Social media can be beneficial in bringing together people who might otherwise struggle, for a variety of reasons, to make daily connections. But it may become a risk factor if it’s used as a replacement for human relationships.

Suicide contagion is a term used when the suicide of one person or multiple people triggers an increase in suicidal behavior among others. This can affect all people, at any age, but it is particularly concerning for people who already have suicidal thoughts, have made previous suicide attempts, or have other risk factors for suicide.

A study published in 2018 found a nearly 10 percent increase in suicides following the suicide of the actor Robin Williams in 2014. Males and people between ages 30 and 44 showed the greatest increase during this time period. (13)

When a celebrity dies by suicide, the media is flooded with articles and reports about the death. This can include sensationalized information and specific details. The coverage can trigger people who are already experiencing suicidal thoughts to identify with the celebrity.

For that reason, media, public health, and suicide prevention organizations have developed “Recommendations for Reporting on Suicide” to address concerns about suicide contagion and establish best practices for news coverage related to suicide. (14) These include avoiding oversimplifying or speculating on the reason for the suicide and not describing or depicting the method or the location where the death took place.

People are often cautioned to look for the “red flags” for suicidal behavior. It’s important to understand that not all people show warning signs, and the signs can be hard to detect. For instance, someone seriously contemplating suicide won’t necessarily say something direct like, “I’m thinking about killing myself.” Instead, they may say something indirect like, “You’ll be better off when I’m gone.”

At the same time, some people do engage in behaviors that suggest imminent danger. Get immediate help if someone is researching ways to commit suicide or gathering the lethal means to attempt suicide, such as guns or medications that can cause death at high doses. Putting one’s affairs in order or giving away prized possessions can also be signs of suicidal ideation.

Other red flags to consider include: (9)

• Communicating feelings of hopelessness
• Talking about wanting to die
• Talking about being a burden to others
• Talking about feeling trapped
• Talking about feeling unbearable pain
• Increased substance abuse
• Acting unusually anxious, agitated, or reckless
• Significant mood swings
• Increased anger or rage
• Withdrawing or feeling isolated
• Changes in sleep patterns (too much or too little)

Any warning signs should be taken seriously in adults and children. Do not assume that someone who talks about feeling hopeless or wanting to die is simply seeking attention. Each warning sign shows that a person is struggling and needs to get help quickly.

From a public health perspective, comprehensive programs in the community, in school systems, and in the workplace play an important role in educating people about suicide and preventing suicide.

Accessible and affordable treatment for all age groups improves the likelihood that people will seek help when they need it.

When people have a better understanding of the risk factors and warning signs and they have access to services, they are more likely to reach out for help for themselves or others.

On an individual level, open communication about suicide and mental health, as well as unconditional support, are essential steps to keeping a friend or loved one safe. If you sense that someone is at risk, follow these steps.

Ask Specific Questions

Asking if someone is thinking of ending their own life does not increase the likelihood that they will attempt suicide. In fact, direct communication relieves the burden of hiding complex emotions out of fear of judgment or stigma. It can provide a feeling of relief from isolation.

Be direct and listen carefully to the answers. Your friend or loved one needs to feel heard and understood. Try starting the conversation with questions like these:

• “Are you having thoughts of suicide?”
• “Have you had thoughts of suicide in the past?”
• “When did you begin feeling this way?”
• “How can I help you through this difficult time?”
• “Have you considered getting help? What steps have you taken to get help?”

Provide Support

It’s important to listen without judgment and convey empathy. You might not know exactly how your loved one is feeling, but you can understand that they need a listening ear, emotional support, and warmth during a difficult time.

Avoid statements like “You have so much to live for!” or “How can you possibly be thinking of this?” Remarks like these can trigger feelings of shame and cause further isolation.

Create a Help Plan

It can be difficult for people experiencing suicidal thoughts to connect to mental health professionals and services on their own.

One way you can help is to gather a list of resources for treatment, such as the names of licensed psychotherapists or psychiatrists, as well as other services that can assist with personal care needs and with getting to and from appointments.

Enact a Safety Plan

If you think that your friend or loved one is showing signs of imminent danger, even if you’re not certain, take the following precautions:

• Stay with the at-risk person until help arrives
• Remove all lethal means
• Take the person to the nearest hospital or call 911

There are a number of resources to help people who are suicidal or show risk factors for suicide. The starting point depends on the risk level.

• Help and chat lines: The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call 988) and the Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741) provide free and confidential support and assist individuals in crisis with local resources.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy are both recommended treatments for people experiencing suicidal ideation.
• Some people experiencing suicidal ideation need medication. A licensed psychiatrist (a child or adolescent psychiatrist for young people) can complete a full workup and prescribe medications.
• Call 911 in the event of imminent risk.
• To learn more about preventing suicide, visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website BeThe1To.com, which was created by the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
  

Suicide is complex, but it is often preventable. If individuals and communities work together to increase awareness, educate one another, and mobilize local resources, they can help people who are experiencing suicidal thoughts get the help they need.

Resources We Love

National Institute of Mental Health: Frequently Asked Questions About Suicide

This resource discusses risk factors and warning signs for suicide, as well as treatment options for people at risk of suicide.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)

This organization is dedicated to raising awareness about mental health and suicide prevention, as well as funding research related to suicide and prevention. The AFSP provides resources for anyone having thoughts of suicide, and offers a search tool for suicide loss support groups in your area.

The Trevor Project Lifeline

The leading suicide prevention organization for LGTBQ+ people under age 25, the Trevor Project offers a lifeline for people having thoughts of suicide. Reach their helpline at any time by dialing 866-488-7386, or text “START” to 678-678 to speak with a Trevor counselor.

Suicide Prevention Resource Center: Resources for Black and African Americans

This organization provides news and resources related to suicide prevention among Black and African American people. Check out their resources on issues like how racism affects mental health among Black women.