Each year, mental health advocates observe World Suicide Prevention Day, a day when we all need to learn as much as we can about the growing problem posed by suicide, including the warning signs, risk factors, and protective factors associated with suicide.
The Suicide Crisis in the U.S.
When the pandemic arrived in early 2020, we were already in the middle of two public health crises: the opioid overdose crisis and a suicide crisis.
Media outlets and public health officials began warning us about rapidly escalating suicide rates among young people in the mid-2010s, but the warnings got serious in 2019. Data in a series of reports from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) caused alarm:
- An overall 30% increase in suicide rates between 2000-2020:
- 10.4 fatal suicides per 100,000 people in 2000
- 13.5 fatal suicide per 100,000 people in 2020
- Rates of suicide across all age groups began increasing in 2007
- In 2014, suicide became a leading cause of death for youth and young adults ages 10-24.
Suicide rates decreased slightly between 2018 and 2020, but have increased again over the past several years:
- In 2022, the CDC reported the highest number or suicide fatalities on record: 49,449
- Initial data from 2023 indicates total of 49,315 suicide fatalities, a decrease of 0.09%
With regard to youth and young adults, the data shows disturbing trends. Consider the facts for suicide fatalities for the following years:
2020:
- The third leading cause of death for people ages 5-19
2020:
- The second leading cause of death for people aged 10 -24
- Among the top four leading causes of death for people age:
- 10-14
- 15-19
- 20-24
2022:
- The second leading cause of death for people 25-34
- The third leading cause of death for people 35-44
Here’s the data that’s most disturbing.
2000-2022:
- Suicide rates for people 13-19 increased 38%
- Suicide rates for people ages 5-12 increased 107%
That wasn’t a typo. Suicide rates for children in elementary school and middle school more than doubled. That’s why we all need to know the warning signs, risk factors, and protective factors associated with suicide: if we know them, we may be able to save the life of a friend or relative.
Suicide: Warning Signs, Risk Factors, Protective Factors
In suicide prevention, there are three primary things to recognize:
- Warning signs are observable actions a person engages in that indicate they may be at elevated suicide risk.
- Risk factors are conditions in the environment or in the life of an individual that increase suicide risk
- Protective factors are conditions in the environment or in the life of the individual that decrease suicide risk.
We’ll share the warning signs, risk factors, and protective factors for suicide below, starting with warning signs.
Warning Signs:
If someone shows the following behaviors, consider them red flags. The person may be at elevated risk of a suicide attempt.
- Talking about suicide and/or suicidal behavior
- Saying they want to die
- Attempting to acquire lethal means, such as a gun or dangerous medication/drugs
- Expressing feelings of extreme hopelessness
- Saying they’re tired of living
- Expressing feelings of being overwhelmed
- Saying they’re in psychological /emotional pain that’s no longer bearable
- Saying they feel like a burden for friends, family, and loved ones
- Engaging in uncharacteristic, excessive alcohol/drug use
- Uncharacteristic restlessness/agitation
- Altered sleep patterns: sleeping far more/less than usual
- Increasing withdrawal from family
- Social isolation
- Saying they want to revenge, get back a people, or get back at the world
- Extreme mood swings
Risk Factors:
If a person shows currently/as a history of the following, they may be at elevated risk of suicide:
- Severe sadness/hopelessness
- Recurring low mood
- Uncharacteristic aggression
- Uncharacteristic impulsivity
- Trauma, neglect, abuse any time in the past
- Severe illness
- Chronic illness
- History of suicidality
- History of suicidality in family
Financial hardship/unemployment - Relationship problems
- Ability to find lethal means
- Low level of support
- Social isolation
- Presence of mental health disorder
- No access to mental health support
- Alcohol/substance use disorder (AUD/SUD)
Protective Factors
A person with the following components in place in their lives has a decreased risk of suicide:
- Professional treatment for mental health disorders
- Professional treatment for alcohol/substance use disorder (AUD/SUD)
- Access to community support
- No access to means to attempt suicide
- Strong family support
- Strong social and community support
- Access to healthcare
- Skills and experience managing stress, reducing relationship conflict, and solving problems
- Religious beliefs or cultural traditions that prohibit/discourage suicidal behavior
IF SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS AT IMMEDIATE RISK OF SUICIDE, CALL 911 OR GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
IF SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS BUT NOT IN IMMEDIATE RISK OF HARM, CALL:
988 SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE
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