Suicide Risk Factors and Warning Signs

Suicide is a devastating act that can seem to have come from nowhere. While we can’t accurately predict an attempt, it can be helpful to understand what might put a person at risk.

It’s also valuable to be able to recognize signs that might warn of a suicide attempt.

Risk Factors

Conditions that could make suicide more likely:

Depression or other mental health illness¹

If several of the following conditions occur nearly every day for 2 weeks or more, it could indicate depression:

• Feeling hopeless, helpless, worthless, sad
• Loss of interest in normally enjoyable activities
• Changes in eating, sleeping patterns
• Exhaustion, low energy
• Feeling anxious, irritable, restless
• Physical pain without a physical cause
• Drop in performance at work or school
• Trouble focusing or making decisions
• Not wanting to be around other people
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Other risk factors

• Alcohol and drug use
• A previous suicide attempt
• A family history of depression, suicide, abuse
• A major loss–a death, relationship, home
• An event that causes shame, guilt, disgrace
• Physical health problems
• Learning of someone else’s suicidal behavior
• Easy access to the means to commit suicide
• Being impulsive or isolated

Warning Signs

These signs may indicate that a suicide attempt is close:

• Direct threats to hurt or kill oneself
• Looking for a way to commit suicide, for example, buying a gun or stockpiling pills
• A focus on death–either by talking, writing, drawing, or posting online about death or suicide; listening to music or looking at websites related to death
• Having a plan for an attempt; generally, the more detailed the plan, the higher the risk
• Behaviors and moods associated with depression as described
• A change in personality or mood–including suddenly becoming happy or calm after being sad
• Neglect of appearance or cleanliness
• Doing risky or self-destructive things
• Giving away meaningful belongings
• Taking care of end-of-life affairs, such as making a will, or getting life insurance in order
• Saying goodbye to friends and loved ones

Take extra caution if a person exhibits 1 or more warning signs and also has 1 or more risk factors or appears intoxicated.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

1-800-273-TALK (8255)