28th January 2024

Factors influencing suicide risk

Risk factors for DSH include:

• Age:
  • DSH rates peak between 16-35 years
  • Suicide rates peak between 45-49 years
• Socio-economic problems or disadvantage
• Social isolation
• Mental health problems, especially depressive, psychotic and personality disorders
• Chronic physical health problems/illness
• Stressful life events such as relationship breakdown, abuse, neglect, domestic violence
• Exposure to suicide, e.g., through bereavement
• Early adversity, e.g., childhood abuse
• Drug and/or alcohol misuse
• Involvement with the criminal justice system
• High-risk occupations (e.g., healthcare professionals, farmers, construction workers)

Protective factors that may reduce the risk of suicide include:

• Effective coping strategies
• Supportive relationships
• Dependents (e.g., children, pets, other family members)
• Religious beliefs