Risk factors

OPERATION Life Online
Risk factors for suicide
There is no typical profile for a person who might
consider suicide. Most suicidal thoughts and behaviours
occur as a result of a build up of a complex web of
circumstances.
However, there are a number of key factors we can be
aware of and try to manage to reduce the risk of suicide.
Suicide risk factors fall into two groups, causal factors
and circumstantial factors.

Causal risk factors
Causal factors for suicide include different mental illnesses or
symptoms of being mentally unwell.
While not all people who suicide have a mental illness, there is a
very strong relationship between mental health problems and
suicide. Some studies have shown that as many as 70% of people
who think about suicide and act on it have a mental health
problem.
Therefore, mental health is one of the most important risk
factors to consider and deal with … that is to manage the risk.

What is mental illness?
There are a range of mental health problems somebody could be
experiencing:
Depression
Bipolar Disorder
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Anxiety
Psychosis
Often symptoms of these illnesses overlap so professional help is
important from an early stage to help with identifying the right
management plan.

Depression
Depression is one of the most common factors in
suicidal thoughts. Not everyone with depression
will think about suicide, but statistically as a
group, they are at higher risk for suicide.
However, depression is a treatable condition that
most people can recover from or find ways to
manage.

Depression
Someone who is experiencing depression is likely to
have a persistent low mood, they may feel
overwhelmed, have trouble sleeping or feel tired.
Many people have experienced low points or feelings
of sadness, but when these feelings become severe and
ongoing, it is important to seek professional help and
support.

Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is characterised by feelings of extreme highs or
lows, or ‘mood swings’.
Everybody experiences a range of moods depending on their
circumstances, but a person with bipolar disorder will experience
extreme moods – being very high and over-excited to feeling
low, depressed and helpless. Some people experience mostly the
highs, some experience mostly the lows and others experience both.
When someone is experiencing the extreme lows of a depressed
episode, this becomes a risk factor for suicide.

Hopelessness and helplessness
Feelings of hopelessness happen when pressures build up to the point
where there don’t seem to be any answers. This state of mind can
lead to suicide being considered as a way out.
People with depression or bipolar disorder often experience a sense of
hopelessness where everything feels overwhelming and difficult. They
may also feel unmotivated or experience little joy when doing things
they once enjoyed.
It is important to understand that there are many other solutions and
that positive outcomes are possible.

Anxiety
Anxiety can take on many forms but is characterised by excessive worrying that
can become debilitating and can have an impact on a person’s day to day life.
There are a number of anxiety disorders that include:
• Post traumatic stress disorder
• Generalised Anxiety Disorder
• Social Anxiety Disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Phobias
It is important to address anxiety with professional support to instigate a sense
of hope and relief from the symptoms.

Psychosis
When somebody experiences psychosis there is a loss of
contact with reality. A person may experience unusual
thoughts and feelings, they may be confused or they may
have delusional thoughts. No experience is the same.
It can be brought on by a stressful event and most people
make a full recovery, but it does become a risk factor for
suicide if symptoms continue.

Trauma and its effects
Trauma is any impact or damage to the neurological, physical,
psychological and social aspects of a whole person.
Traumatic experiences can include anything from a person
witnessing a violent event or accident, being directly involved in
an accident or being harmed by something or someone.
Trauma from such events can then be a precursor to someone
developing a mental illness, such as Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is characterised as someone re-living a
traumatic experience and the feelings from that experience. This
can be triggered by smells, sounds, feelings or visual cues.

Trauma and its effects
Not all individuals exposed to a traumatic event will develop a
mental illness or need professional help, many people recover
with the help and support of their family and friends. But for
some it can have a profound and long-lasting impact, and this
can become a risk factor for suicide.
It is important for ex-service personnel to be aware of the
possible effect of trauma on their lives and on the lives of those
around them. PTSD is treatable and most people do recover, but
early intervention is vital. Professional support is the first step
towards sustained recovery.

When a child’s parent has PTSD
PTSD can also have damaging effects on the family and friends of a person
with PTSD as a parent with PTSD has to contend with a range of symptoms
that are both frightening and exhausting.
Children may not understand what is happening or why, and they may start to
worry about their parent's well-being or that their parent cannot properly
care for them.
This can then impact their own emotional wellbeing, their behaviour and
increase the likelihood for developing a mental illness, which is a risk factor
for suicide.
It is important for ex-service personnel to be aware of the impact of their
PTSD on their family and friends and the increased risks not just to
themselves but to others they care for and love. Seeking professional help is
the first step to recovery.

Circumstantial risk factors
On their own circumstantial factors may not often be a significant risk
factor, but when combined with causal factors they increase the potential risk
of suicide - that is they promote a ‘compounding’ effect and need to be
managed.
Every person’s life is different and their circumstances are always changing
and can be changed but there are some key circumstantial factors, when
coupled with causal factors, that can significantly increase the risk of suicide.
These are:
• Transition from military service
• Injury and disability
• Isolation
• Excessive alcohol use
• Loss of someone close
• Heightened arousal
• Risk taking
• Sudden changes

Transition from military service
Transition from military service is sometimes difficult.
Changes have taken place, both at home and away, and
returning is always a time of re-learning and requires
patience.
Ex-service personnel need to understand that a return to
civilian life has similar characteristics and time is needed to
become attuned to a new way of life and new expectations.

Injury and disability
Injuries and disabilities are a distressing
consequence of war and peacekeeping deployment.
Coping with injury or disability in civilian life is more
complex and sometimes results in feeling forgotten
or marginalised.
It is important for ex-service personnel to access
information and support.

Alcohol
Use of alcohol is a part of the Australian culture and often an accepted
part of a social occasion. It becomes a problem and a risk for suicide
when it is used at risky levels, or as self-medication.
Under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, individuals experience
impaired judgement which affects decision making ― many individuals
who attempt or complete suicide often have high levels of alcohol or
other drugs in their systems.
Ex-service personnel and their families need to be aware of the risks to
themselves and others associated with the misuse of alcohol.

Isolation
Isolation can be physical (living in a remote area) or emotional
(withdrawing from friends and family), either way it reduces the
support around you and increases the risk of suicide. This is
particularly important if you are experiencing depression,
anxiety or bipolar disorder.
For a healthier lifestyle, it is important to acknowledge the level
of isolation in your life and explore ways of increasing social
interaction.

Loss of someone close
The death of someone close is a significant loss and grieving is
difficult. People may experience a range of emotions which can
often include feelings of shock, confusion, anger, guilt and
exhaustion.
The death of someone close, especially if they have suicided, can
be a risk factor of suicide for grieving family and friends, so it is
very important to have an understanding of the grieving process
and to have access to professional emotional support.

Heightened arousal
Heightened arousal or, hyper-vigilance, is a state of being
constantly alert due to higher levels of adrenalin and cortisol in
the body. It often follows an experience of trauma.
Heightened arousal can be linked with Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD) and is also associated with increased risk taking
and increased risk of suicide.

Risk taking
Risk taking should always be considered within the context in
which it occurs. It is important to understand the changes
involved in the move from military to civilian life and what risks
are reasonable within your new context.
Risk taking can be a positive aspect of life, but it becomes a
problem when risk taking begins to have a negative impact on
health and wellbeing and can be life-threatening. Taking risks is
often associated with heightened arousal and increases the
chances of suicide.

Next steps
The causal and circumstantial risk factors of suicide are
serious, but they are not permanent.
Support and professional help are available for anybody
experiencing mental health problems and it is possible to
recover.
At times many of our circumstances may seem overwhelming
and intractable, but life is not static and it is possible for our
circumstances to change for the better.
click here for information about protective factors against suicide

Risk factors

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