Foundation for Suicide Prevention is a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education, and advocacy to act against this leading cause of death.
Are you in a Crisis? Call or text 988 or text TALK to 741741
Mission: Save Lives and Bring Hope to Those Affected by Suicide.
What leads to suicide?
There’s no single cause for suicide. Suicide most often occurs when stressors and health issues converge to create an experience of hopelessness and despair. Depression is the most common condition associated with suicide, and it is often undiagnosed or untreated. Conditions like depression, anxiety, and substance problems, especially when unaddressed, increase risk for suicide. Yet it’s important to note that most people who actively manage their mental health conditions go on to engage in life.
Risk factors
Risk factors are characteristics or conditions that increase the chance that a person may try to take their life.
Health
Mental health conditions
Depression
Substance use problems
Bipolar disorder
Schizophrenia
Personality traits of aggression, mood changes and poor relationships
Conduct disorder
Anxiety disorders
Serious physical health conditions including pain
Traumatic brain injury
Environmental
Access to lethal means including firearms and drugs
Prolonged stress, such as harassment, bullying, relationship problems or unemployment
Stressful life events, like rejection, divorce, financial crisis, other life transitions or loss
Exposure to another person’s suicide, or to graphic or sensationalized accounts of suicide
Discrimination
Historical
Previous suicide attempts
Family history of suicide
Childhood abuse, neglect or trauma
Generational trauma
For additional information about American Foundation for Suicide Prevention go to their website: https://afsp.org/