People who become suicidal are experiencing intense emotional pain. They want to stop this pain and see suicide as an option – a way to end their pain.
A number of experiences and circumstances increase a person's risk of suicide. For example:
- Any form of abuse - emotional, physical or sexual, past or present
- Any significant loss. For example, the death of a loved one
- Relationship breakdown
- Mental illness such as depression
- Living in remote areas or in social isolation
- Previous suicide attempts or deliberate self-harm
- Exposure to suicidal behaviour in others, particularly another’s suicidal death
- Parental separation or divorce
- Drug or alcohol abuse
- Homelessness
- Failing subjects at school or dropping out of courses
- Experiencing bullying
- Legal or court action
- Financial crises such as job loss, drought, bankruptcy
However, suicidal thoughts and feelings can be triggered by any life event. The crucial issue is how a person feels about that life event/circumstance and what meaning it has for the person. That is, the person’s interpretation of the situation.
In most cases, the person is contending with several stressful life events or circumstances at once. Their thoughts and emotions connected to these experiences become overwhelming for them.
Whilst suicidal thoughts and suicidal behaviour could be symptoms of some mental illnesses (for example, depression), it is important to note that if a person is feeling suicidal it does not automatically follow that the person has a mental illness. Rather, the suicidal person is experiencing a time of crisis.
The degree of powerlessness, helplessness, hopelessness, desperation or worthlessness a person is experiencing affects their level of risk of suicide. See Warning Signs.
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