I didn’t know it was that bad.
That’s a common statement friends and family make when their loved one attempts to take their life. They didn’t know it was “bad” or that things were “tough.” Yet, suicidal thoughts tend to develop and worsen over time. For many families, being there to save your loved one means paying close attention to risk factors that could contribute to the onset of this type of mental health disorder.
If you or someone you know is facing suicidal thoughts right now, call 911 or 988 for immediate support. You can also walk into Willow Creek Behavioral Health at any time for a confidential assessment. We work with adolescents and adults with suicidal tendencies. We know how to help.
What Factors Contribute to Suicide Risk?
Suicide typically does not stem from a single experience, event, or circumstance. For many people, the attempt to take their life, whether successful or not, stems from a consistent level of exposure to risk factors or, in many situations, numerous types of risk factors at once.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that certain factors contribute to a higher suicide risk in individuals. These include:
- Those who have attempted suicide in the past. There is a higher risk for those individuals who attempt it again.
- Those battling a history of depression or other mental health conditions, with or without treatment.
- People who are facing serious criminal or legal problems. That’s especially true when they feel there is no way out.
- People who have had a substantial financial loss, lost their job, or business.
- Victims of abuse who face a sense of hopelessness.
How Relationship Risk Factors Contribute
In addition to these factors, relationship risk factors also contribute to a higher risk of suicide attempts. For example, those who experience the following types of harmful or painful relationship events may also face a higher risk of suicidal actions:
- Bullying
- Loss of close relationships, especially without proper grieving support
- A family or loved one’s history of suicide
- Social isolation
- High conflict relationships, including those involving domestic violence
In these situations, the intensity of the situation and environment is so severe that the thought of going on seems impossible.
Types of Community Risk Factors
The community you live in and maintain may also contribute to the onset of suicidal tendencies. That doesn’t mean that one city is worse than the other. Rather, there are factors within the environment you live in that contribute to these negative thought patterns. This also means many people in these environments do not see how they will get out of them. Community risk factors include:
- Discrimination of any form
- Stress of acculturation
- Lack of access to healthcare (often associated with the sudden onset of a medical crisis)
- Historical trauma in the area
- Community violence and overall fear
- Suicide clusters in the community
There are also bigger-picture factors that contribute to a higher risk of suicidal thoughts. For example, the stigma of mental health within some environments or cultures can make seeking support for depression, anxiety, or trauma seem like a weakness. A lack of support for treating mental illness is a common reason why people commit suicide.
Also note that those who live in an environment where tools to support suicide, such as access to drugs or guns, can also increase these risks. That doesn’t mean that the community is at fault, but it does mean that you, as a family member or friend, need to take action to protect your loved one’s future.
What Can Help Prevent Suicide?
There’s often a lot of discussion about what causes suicide to happen. Researchers don’t fully understand. Yet, some factors could help you and your family minimize such risks. For example:
- Work to develop and teach others effective coping mechanisms and stress management strategies.
- Create a strong cultural identity and support healthy mental health throughout the process.
- Supportive relationships, in which friends and family do not shy away from talking about mental health complications, but are happy to sit and talk. That feeling of being connected to others can be critically important.
- Ensure that your family and community have easy access to quality mental health care.
- Protect family members from risks. Avoid having tools available that could create an unsafe condition for someone facing a serious emotional or traumatic event.
Acting Now Makes a Difference. Contact Us for Help
Treatment for suicidal thoughts is available and effective. At Willow Creek Behavioral Health, we provide you with the exceptional support you need in a non-judgmental, authentic manner. If you or a loved one is at a serious risk of suicide, do not put off getting help even one more hour. Call us now for the support you need.
