Behaviors and symptoms that may indicate that a person is at immediate or serious risk for suicide or a suicide attempt. To learn more, visit our Warning Signs for Suicide page.
Suicide prevention seeks to reduce the factors that increase suicide risk while increasing the factors that protect people from suicide.
Risk factors are characteristics of a person or his or her environment that increase the likelihood that he or she will die by suicide (i.e., suicide risk).
Major risk factors for suicide include:
Risk Factors Can Vary Across Groups
Risk factors can vary by age group, culture, sex, and other characteristics. For example:
Protective factors are personal or environmental characteristics that help protect people from suicide.
Major protective factors for suicide include:
Precipitating Factors and Warning Signs
Precipitating factors are stressful events that can trigger a suicidal crisis in a vulnerable person. Examples include:
Some behaviors may indicate that a person is at immediate risk for suicide.
The following three should prompt you to immediately call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or a mental health professional.
Other behaviors may also indicate a serious risk—especially if the behavior is new; has increased; and/or seems related to a painful event, loss, or change.
The Lifeline is a 24-hour toll-free phone line for people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.
An online chat option is also available.
Solely dedicated to preventing suicide. Learn more about suicide, risk factors, warning signs, myths and facts. PSPA also offers resources, training's, events, volunteer opportunities, ways to give back and donate, along with helpful ways to spread the word to reduce the stigma associated with suicide.