Table 1. Risk Factors for Suicide.
Risk Factor | Strength of Association with Suicide | Quality of Evidence* |
---|---|---|
Precipitating factors | ||
Drug and alcohol misuse12 | Strong | High |
Access to lethal means15 | Moderate | High |
Life events16 | Moderate | High |
New diagnosis of terminal or chronic | Moderate | Moderate |
physical illness17 | ||
Media effects18 | Weak | Moderate |
Predisposing factors | ||
Neuropsychiatric disorders12 | Strong | High |
Family history of suicidal behavior19 | Strong | High |
Previous suicide attempt20 | Moderate | High |
Adverse childhood experiences21 | Moderate | Moderate |
Socioeconomic deprivation22 | Weak | Low |
Low quality indicates reported associations alone, moderate quality indicates reported associations that have been replicated in different settings, and high quality indicates associations that are supported by evidence from quasi-experimental studies or clinical trials.