Suicide Risk and Protective Factors

To prevent Veteran suicide, we must work together to increase protective factors while decreasing risk factors in communities across the nation.

These are characteristics associated with a decreased likelihood of suicidal behaviors.

Factors that protect against suicide risk include:

  • Access to mental health care

  • Access to care for substance use disorders

  • Feeling connected to others

  • Adaptive spiritual functioning

  • Positive coping skills

  • Develop or learn about coping skills

  • Understand you reasons for living: kids, family, friends, major life events to look forward to

  • Relative psychosocial stability suggest enhanced ability to endure future crisis without engaging in self-directed violence

  • Have something that needs attention or taking care of like a pet or plants

 

VETERAN SPECIFIC PROTECTIVE FACTORS INCLUDE

  • Resilience

  • A sense of belonging and purpose through military service

  • Access to VA mental health care and care for substance use disorders

  • Positive coping skills learned in high-stress settings.

PROTECTIVE FACTORS CAN HELP OFFSET RISK FACTORS

Suicide Risk Factors

  • Alcohol and other substance use disorders

  • Mental disorders, particularly mood disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and certain personality disorders

  • Hopelessness

  • Impulsive and/or aggressive tendencies

  • History of trauma or abuse

  • Major physical illnesses

  • Previous suicide attempt(s)

  • Stigma associated with asking for help

  • Lack of health care, especially mental health and substance abuse treatment

  • Cultural and religious beliefs, such as the belief that suicide is a noble resolution of a personal dilemma

  • Family history of suicide

  • Job or financial loss

  • Loss of relationship(s)

  • Easy access to lethal means

  • Local clusters of suicide

  • Lack of social support and sense of isolation

  • Exposure to others who have died by suicide (in real life or via the media and Internet)A history of interpersonal violence/abuse

  • Unwillingness to seek help because of stigma related to mental health, substance abuse disorders, or suicidal thoughts

  • Unemployment

  • Alcohol misuse/abuse

  • Economic instability and social disintegration

  • Perceived discrimination

  • Isolation, feeling cut off from other people

  • Local epidemics of suicide (called "Suicide Clusters")

Veteran specific risk factors also include:

  • Transition-related challenges

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder

  • Traumatic brain injury

  • Experience with firearms