Understanding Suicide

Every suicide is complex, and most of the time there isn't one event or factor that leads someone to take their own life.

Often, people who die by suicide are in more than one at ‘at-risk’ group.

As you can see here, there are many different risk factors for suicide. Usually, a combination of different factors interact with each other to increase a person’s risk.

• Men – in the UK and Republic of Ireland 3 in 4 deaths by suicide are men. In the UK, men in middle-age have the highest rates of suicide.
• People living in disadvantaged communities – there is a strong link between inequality and suicide.

Risk factors work together to increase risk.

For example, men in the lowest social class, living in the most deprived areas, are up to ten times more at risk of suicide than men in the highest social class, living in the most affluent areas.

However, risk factors still operate at all different levels in society. For example, women in disadvantaged communities, and people of all genders of a higher social class, may still experience risk factors, such as physical illness.

A risk factor for suicide is something – such as a situation or characteristic – which evidence shows means a person is more likely to die by suicide.

Of course, many people experience risk factors who do not die by suicide.

We’ve separated risk factors into three levels: society, community and individual.

We’ve also listed psychological risk factors, life events and changes, and risk factors that affect children separately.

Across society

• Economic downturn – during economic recessions the incidence of suicide rises. The decline of traditional ‘male’ occupations, and unemployment generally, has also been linked to suicide.
• Masculinity – standards and expectations surrounding ‘how to be a man’ have been linked to feelings of shame, defeat. Men tend to misuse alcohol more and chose more lethal methods of suicide.
• Stigma – negative attitudes, discrimination towards those who have attempted or taken their own life can have a significant impact on people who are struggling.
• Access to methods of suicide – how easy it is for a person to access lethal means of ending their life affects their likelihood of dying by suicide. For example, UK legislation reducing access has been shown to effectively reduce suicide rates.
• Unsafe media reporting of suicide – inappropriate coverage of suicide may lead to ‘imitative’ behaviour, our research shows.

In communities

• Exposure to suicide – knowing someone who has died by suicide or who has attempted to take their own life can increase a person's risk.
• Weak social networks – a lack of support, whether from family or friends, is a risk factor.
• Poor quality physical environment – this applies especially to housing.
• Poor quality – or inaccessible – local services.
• Lack of job opportunities.

Individual risk factors

• Previous suicide attempt
• History of self-harm
• Mental health problems
• History of trauma or abuse
• Alcohol abuse and drug abuse
• Hospitalisation for a physical illness

Individual psychological and personality factors

We know that some personality and psychological factors can put people at increased risk of suicide. These factors influence how someone thinks about and reacts to the things that happen to them.

• Perfectionism – self-criticism, doubts about actions, and concerns over mistakes.
• Social perfectionism – a belief that other people hold unrealistically high expectations and that they would only be satisfied with these standards.
• Rumination – repeatedly going over a thought or problem and dwelling on it, but not actively solving the problem.
• Finding it difficult to solve problems – having a lack of strategies to cope with situations.

Life events and changes

The following life events or changes are known to be associated with increased suicide risk.

• Recent loss or the break up of a close relationship.
• Financial and/or legal problems.
• Change in circumstances, such as a separation, divorce or job loss.
• Suicide, or attempted suicide, of a family member or friend.
• Suicide of a public figure (particularly if someone strongly identifies with them).
• Sometimes people may feel that they behaved in an unacceptable way or lost control. This can leave them with strong feelings of unmanageable shame, failure, and worthlessness, due to feeling that they’re fallen below the standards expected of them.

Risk factors for children and young people

We know that there are particular stresses and events that increase risk for children and young people.

These reflect certain risk factors highlighted for the general population, such as poor quality housing, abuse, bereavement and inequality, and include some additional, age-specific factors.

• Academic pressures
• Bullying
• Parental separation or divorce
• Parental death
• Suicide of a friend
• Experiencing abuse or neglect
• Workplace and financial problems
• Housing problems