Manual:
Behavioral Health
Chapter:
National Patient Safety Goals NPSG
Topic:
Ligature and/or Suicide Risk Reduction - Assessing Risk Factors
NPSG.15.01.01 EP 3 requires that the suicide risk assessment include 'risk factors'. What are examples of these risk factors ?
Any examples are for illustrative purposes only.
Risk factors may be described as a combination of individual, relationship, community, and societal levels that can increase the possibility that a person will attempt suicide.
Examples of risk factors include, but are not limited to:
Individual Risk Factors
Additional Resource
Suicide Prevention Portal
Risk factors may be described as a combination of individual, relationship, community, and societal levels that can increase the possibility that a person will attempt suicide.
Examples of risk factors include, but are not limited to:
Individual Risk Factors
- Previous suicide attempt(s)
- History of mental illnesses, particularly depression
- Serious physical illness, such as chronic pain
- Criminal/legal issues
- Financial problems or job loss
- Impulsive or aggressive tendencies
- Substance use
- Current or prior history of adverse childhood experiences
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Violence victimization and/or perpetration
- Bullying
- Family history of suicide
- Loss
- Violent or high conflict
- Isolation
- Lack of access to healthcare
- Suicide clusters
- Adopting and adjusting to a new environment
- Violence
- Discrimination
- Stigma associated with mental illness and seeking help
- Access to lethal means
- Media portrayals of suicide
References
The Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Additional Resource
Last updated on September 10, 2024
with update notes of: Editorial changes only
First Published Date: May 07, 2019
Last Reviewed Date: February 01, 2022