I have thought many times what makes a person commit suicide. Mainly, this is because I have been actively and passively suicidal for extended periods of my life. It’s hell and I hate it. There are both general and specific things that make a person suicidal. Knowing these factors, along with ways to protect yourself from suicide, can help.
General factors that make a person suicidal
The biggest predictor of suicide is mental illness. Specifically, a psychotic disorder (such as schizophrenia), bipolar disorder, or a substance-related disorder all have high risks of suicide. In the case of bipolar disorder, suicide is a specific symptom of a depressive disorder, so bipolar depression can definitely make you suicidal. In addition, it is worth noting that Most people with bipolar disorder also have a comorbid substance use disorderputting them at particularly high risk.
In addition to mental illness, however, other general factors can contribute to a person’s suicide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these include:
- Social isolation
- Impulsive or aggressive tendencies
- Feeling hopeless
- Lack of access to health care
- Cluster of suicides in the community
- The stress of getting used to a new culture
- Community violence
- Historical trauma
- Discrimination
- The stigma associated with help-seeking and mental illness
- Unsafe depictions of suicide in the media
To be honest with you, some of these I buy more than others. For example, I think social isolation definitely contributes to suicide, while I’m not sure current media portrayals of suicide really have much of an effect, but that’s me.
Specific events that make a person suicidal
In addition to the above, there are specific events that can contribute to a person’s suicide. I think it is difficult to identify these facts for everyone. For example, I have become extremely depressed and suicidal to the point of hospitalization after starting a new job. It was the new job that triggered the depressive episode, but one could say that it was the depression that caused the suicide.
That said, the CDC also has a list of specific events that can lead a person to commit suicide. They include:
- Previous suicide attempt
- Serious illness such as chronic pain
- Criminal/legal problems
- Work/financial problems or loss
- Current or past history of adverse childhood experiences
- Victimization and/or perpetration of violence
- Intimidation
- History of family/loved one suicide
- Loss of relationships
- High conflict or violent relationships
- Easy access to lethal means of suicide
What makes me suicidal?
Some of the above I have personal experience and some I don’t. What I can say is that for me, life changes are depressing. Depression causes suicide. When I am suicidal, I could dwell on some of the above factors, however, so they are major contributors to making me suicidal as well. For example, I may be extremely depressed and suicidal, feel extremely hopeless, and focus on the loss of a relationship and work problems. This focus will only make me feel worse and worse and more and more suicidal.
I can also attest to the fact that lack of access to healthcare is a major contributor to suicide. It was a big part of why I attempted suicide, actually. I felt that if I couldn’t get access to a psychiatrist, then I couldn’t get help. If I couldn’t get help, then I couldn’t get better. And if I couldn’t get better, then there was no point in continuing. I honestly believe that denying people access to proper health care kills people every day.
How to protect yourself from suicide
Knowing what to do when you are suicidal is critical, particularly if you have a serious mental illness. However, not being suicidal in the first place is much better. You can put in protective agents to prevent the suicidal period from occurring.
According to the CDC, factors that can prevent suicide include:
- Effective problem solving and problem solving skills
- Life reasons (for example, family, friends, pets, etc.)
- Strong sense of cultural identity
- Support from colleagues, friends and family
- Feeling connected to other people, school, community and other social institutions
- Availability of consistent and high-quality physical and behavioral health care
- Reduced access to lethal means of suicide
- Cultural, religious or moral objections to suicide
Some of these protective factors you are born with and others you can put into your life. For example, different types of therapy can help you develop effective coping and problem-solving skills and help you find reasons to live. Being more involved with others and the community (volunteering can be effective) can help you feel connected.
If you have already committed suicide
Of course, it is much easier to focus on protective factors in good times than in bad times. If I am already suicidal, I consider three things to be important:
- Treatment
- Delay
- SECONDMENT
The first is self-explanatory. If you are suicidal, you need to see a professional and get treatment. If you have an illness like bipolar disorder, this likely means your medication needs to change, among other things.
The second is to delay the act of suicide. As much as I think to myself, “I don’t need to kill myself right now. I can always do it later.”
If I think about whether I can survive one more minute without killing myself, that’s a worthwhile delay.
Finally, distraction makes me very different. If I sit and think about how depressed and suicidal I am and the problems in my life that won’t go away, I will hurt more and be more likely to act on suicidal feelings. I very deliberately focus my attention on things that are safe for me.
It is also important to realize that going to a hospital or psychiatric facility is an important option to consider. Your life is worth it.
For more on what to do in the event of suicide, see here.
Contact methods can be found here.
What makes a person suicidal is personal
While the above matters, when it comes down to it, some suicide risk factors will matter more to a person than others. It is important to know yourself like this. We are also each at risk for some things more than others. But no one can be protected from everything.
What I am suggesting is to put plans in place: one to prevent suicide and one to take action when suicide strikes. You may never need the second one. This would be great. But it’s important to have one just in case.
The CDC source is linked here.
