Suicide: Risk Factors and Resilience

Depression is the most common risk factor that is also associated with the highest rates of suicide. Approximately 30% of the population will experience depression at some point in their lives. Depression is not dismay or sadness that lasts for several hours, or in slang ‘bummer’ or ‘down’. These situations are common. Most people experience this, and this differs from clinical depression, which is referred to in professional jargon as: major depressive disorder. Depression is a mental health disability, and as with any disability - requires treatment. When a person is suffering from depression, the sadness does not disappear after several days but lasts more than two weeks and may lead to suicidal ideation.

A person in depression can be identified if he is experiencing one or more of the following:

• Significant disorder and dramatic functional decline.
• Difficulty sleeping as well as difficulty in falling asleep, the frequent waking up in the middle of the night or alternately, excessive sleeping (12-15 hours). These difficulties are extremely common among those suffering from depression.
• A bad mood and nothing improve the mood.
• Lack of pleasure from anything, including activities that were previously enjoyed.
• Dramatic lack of interest in life, no interest in studies or work, not participating in clubs that were once enjoyed, stopping to meet with friends.
• Changes in appetite that may manifest as lack of appetite or increased appetite.
• Withdrawal or isolation.
• Lack of focus and difficulty in making decisions.
• Atypical behavior that primarily manifests as aggression and irritability with outbursts of rage.
• Feelings of despair, pessimism, hopelessness.
• Poor self-esteem, sense of lack of value.

Important to know: Depression can be treated, with extremely effective methods. Some peoplesuffering from depression find it difficult to ask for help, inter alia, due to the despair and hopelessness involved in depression. If we help a person suffering from depression to gain access to therapy and to receive help, we can help cope with the situation, lead to recovery and save lives.

In addition to depression, other mental health disabilities known to be risk factors for suicidal ideation include addiction, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, behavioral disorders, borderline personality disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, etc.

Suicidal ideation, threats and attempts in the past or suicidal intention are part of the history of suicide. Previous attempts at suicide are a risk factor and the strongest predictor of suicide. It is important to know that many of those who committed suicide survided previous attempts at suicide. If a person has already attempted suicide and there are other risk factors at the present moment, it is important that the person be monitored and receive treatment when necessary.

You should know: The nature of the previous attempts is also a predictor of additional attempts using similar methods and under similar circumstances, which may practically help to remove means and methods that may be used to attempt suicide. If a person close to you is in these situations, it is important to be alert, offer assistance or refer him to receive help.

• Impulsive and aggressive personality.
• Difficulty in regulating or controlling emotions.
• Sense of lack of belonging or alienation: with society, family, etc.
• Extreme sense of loneliness.
• Perfectionism that manifests as teh desire to be perfect and to perfectly perform tasks.
• Conceptual rigidity, seeing the world in black and white, yes or no, difficulty in demonstrating flexibility in goals and positions.
• Difficulty in problem solving.
• Difficulty in self-exposure and in honestly sharing emotions and thoughts.

• Dropping out of school.

• Social boycott or social ostracism that overtime includes harassment and bullying.

• Harsh experiences and humiliation on social media such as a post that was written or intimate photo that was distributed without permission.

• Difficulties in relationships with people that result in social isolation and detachment.

• Exposure to descriptions of suicide in the media that glorify the act, which lend it a romantic or fascinating spin.

   

• Stressful life events: such as divorce, financial crisis or loss of a loved one can trigger emotional pain and other risk factors for suicide. It is important to notice that negative life events almost never constitute risk factors on their own, despite being significant causes of stress and psychological pain. As such, we will mention taht most people do not develop suicidal ideation, even during the most serious life events. Negative life events may essentially add to already existing emotional pain, to deterioration in mental health disabilities or to sense of isolation or other risk factors described on this page. These events are a trigger that occasionally causes a person to shift from suicidal thoughts to committing suicide. Subsequently, negative life events such as chronic unemployment, bullying or difficult divorce may increase the risk of suicide.
• Trauma: Studies showed that exposure to traumatic events, as well as symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder significantly increase the risk of suicidal ideation and suicide.

• Physical and sexual abuse.
• Family history of suicide

Recent studies revealed that biological factors, including inherent genetic traits, as well as inflammatory and hormonal processes, coupled with environmental and social factors, significantly affect the risk of suicide.

Lethal means such as guns or other weapons, dangerous medications and access to high places (such as an open balcony) coupled with environmental factors can have an unfortunate outcome. When a person is at risk, when they are ambivalent about their desire to live or end their emotional suffering, and these means are within grasp, the outcome may be fatal.