Knowing the risk factors for suicide can help you step in early and offer support.
Many people who experience suicidal thoughts are living with mental health conditions. Getting support for these conditions is a key step in suicide prevention.
Reaching out for help — whether from friends, family, or mental health professionals — can make a lifesaving difference.
Understanding suicide* risk factors can save lives. Risk factors are things that can raise your chance of having suicidal thoughts or harming yourself. They can include certain life events, mental health conditions, or stressful situations.
Suicidal thoughts are more common than many people realize. And talking about them openly can reduce shame and help you feel less alone.
When you understand suicide risk factors, you’re better able to recognize early warning signs and take steps to get support. It’s not about predicting the future. Rather, it’s about noticing when you might need help and reaching out before things get overwhelming.
*The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, confidential support with trained crisis counselors. If you or a loved one is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, please call or text 988. If you’re experiencing a life-threatening emergency or you need immediate help, please call 911.
The connection between mental health conditions and suicide
Mental health conditions can sometimes make the world feel heavy and hopeless. They can affect your thoughts, emotions, and problem-solving skills, making it harder to see a way forward.
In fact, research suggests that as many as 90% of people who die by suicide are living with a diagnosable mental health condition at the time of their death.
Some examples of mental health conditions that can increase the risk of suicide include:
Depression: This condition can intensify feelings of hopelessness and make it harder to imagine solutions to life’s problems.
Anxiety disorders: Heightened worry and fear can feel overwhelming and make coping with stress more difficult.
Bipolar disorder: Mood swings can increase impulsivity. This can worsen feelings of despair during depressive phases. Up to 50% of people with bipolar disorder attempt suicide.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Reliving trauma can heighten distress and make people feel trapped. PTSD is particularly a risk factor for suicide in those assigned female at birth.
Eating disorders: Emotional pain that’s tied to body image can increase vulnerability to hopeless thoughts.
Personality disorders: Intense emotional experiences and difficulties managing relationships can make it feel harder to cope.
Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders: Distressing symptoms can disrupt reality. This can increase feelings of fear or isolation. Young adults with schizophrenia are at an elevated risk for suicide — especially in the early years of the condition.
How to lower the risk: Work with a mental health professional who can help you manage symptoms and build coping skills. Small habits — like getting outside each day or using tools you learn in therapy — can help you hold on when things feel dark.
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The impact of past suicide attempts
A history of suicide attempts is one of the strongest predictors of future suicide. Past attempts often mean you’ve gone through deep emotional pain or felt like you had no other options, and those feelings can return under stress.
How to lower the risk: Create a personal safety plan that you keep handy with phone numbers, coping strategies, and reminders of reasons to stay. Ongoing therapy can help you feel supported before you ever reach a crisis point.
Why men are more affected by suicide
Men die by suicide at higher rates than women. Cultural pressures to “be strong” or hide emotions can make it harder for men to seek help, and they may choose more lethal methods of suicide.
How to lower the risk: Talk openly with someone you trust about what you’re going through, even if it feels awkward at first. Joining a men’s group, working with a therapist who understands these challenges, or connecting with peers who’ve been there can make it easier to share what’s really going on.
Certain ages carry higher suicide risk
Suicide risk can be higher in certain life stages. Teens and young adults may face identity struggles or intense pressure. Older adults may deal with loneliness, health issues, or loss of independence.
How to lower the risk: Seek out age-specific support, like youth programs or social groups for older adults. Being part of a community where you feel understood can make life feel more manageable and meaningful.
Race, ethnicity, and suicide disparities
Some racial and ethnic groups face higher suicide rates. This may be due to systemic racism, discrimination, and/or barriers to mental healthcare. These factors can deepen isolation and reduce access to support.
How to lower the risk: Look for mental health providers or community programs that understand your culture and values. Culturally competent care can help you feel seen and respected, making it easier to open up and get the help you deserve.
The role of unhealthy substance use in suicide
Alcohol and drugs can intensify emotional pain, impair judgment, and lower inhibitions — making suicidal thoughts more likely to turn into action.
How to lower the risk: If substance use is making life harder, consider talking to a counselor or joining a recovery group. Treating both emotional health and substance use together can help you think more clearly, cope better, and see more options for the future.
When financial stress takes a toll
Money struggles can create overwhelming pressure and feelings of hopelessness. And it can be hard to imagine a way out when financial challenges pile up.
Financial issues that can make suicide more likely include:
Job loss that leaves you unsure how to meet your daily needs
Debt that feels impossible to pay off
Housing instability that makes it hard to feel safe and secure
How to lower the risk: Reach out to trusted people and community resources for help with immediate needs. Pairing practical support — like financial counseling — with therapy can help you manage both the stress and the emotions that come with it.
Living with chronic pain or illness
Chronic pain or long-term illness can wear you down physically and emotionally. The constant strain can lead to feelings of despair or loss of purpose.
How to lower the risk: Work with your healthcare team to find the best pain-management plan for you. Consider therapy approaches like acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). This approach focuses on helping you find meaning and joy even with ongoing symptoms. Support groups can also remind you that you’re not facing this alone.
One suicide risk factor that’s often overlooked is feeling disconnected or isolated, even if someone seems outwardly fine. If you or a loved one feels this way, it’s OK to reach out. Connection can save lives.
Brandy Chalmers, LPC
Clinical reviewer
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Suicide risk can be shaped by many factors. Recognizing these risks and understanding how they affect thoughts, feelings, and coping skills can help you step in early with compassion and care. Support is always available. And reaching out can be the first step toward safety and healing.
At Rula, we’re committed to delivering a comprehensive behavioral health experience that helps people feel seen and understood so they can get back to feeling their best.
Rula makes it easier to find a licensed therapist or psychiatric provider who accepts your insurance so you don’t have to choose between affordable care and excellent care. With a diverse network of more than 15,000 providers, 24/7 crisis support, and appointments available as soon as tomorrow, we're here to help you make progress — wherever you are on your mental health journey.
Brandy Chalmers, LPC
Having faced challenges like childhood abuse, neglect, and the loss of her father to suicide, Brandy Chalmers is deeply passionate about providing compassionate care. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, and Registered Play Therapist with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy.
Brandy also teaches at a university, sharing her expertise with future mental health professionals. With over a decade of experience in settings like inpatient care and private practice, she specializes in helping clients with perfectionism, trauma, personality disorders, eating disorders, and life changes.
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Rula's editorial team is on a mission to make science-backed mental health insights accessible and practical for every person seeking to better understand or improve mental wellness.
Members of Rula’s clinical leadership team and other expert providers contribute to all published content, offering guidance on themes and insights based on their firsthand experience in the field. Every piece of content is thoroughly reviewed by a clinician before publishing.
