Risk Factors and Warning Signs
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Risk Factors are characteristics that make it more likely that individuals will consider, attempt, or die by suicide.
- Previous suicide attempts
- Mental health disorders, particularly depression, anxiety disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, and certain personality disorders
- Alcohol or other substance-use disorders
- Family history of mental health disorder or substance use disorder
- History of trauma, abuse, or sexual assault
- Family history of suicide or exposure to others that have died by suicide
- Family violence
- Chronic physical illness, including chronic pain
- Firearms in the home or access to other lethal means
- Lack of social support or social isolation
- Major life adjustment
- Incarceration
- Perfectionism
*Please note: it is not necessary to find out if the person in need has these risk factors if you are not already aware of them.
Warning Signs indicate an immediate possibility of suicide, whereas risk factors indicate someone has an increased likelihood for suicide, but indicate little or nothing about immediate danger.
- Starting or increasing use of alcohol or drugs
- Aggressive, impulsive, reckless, or disruptive behavior
- Talking about death and dying, expressing a strong wish to die, or talking about wanting “pain” to end
- Preoccupation with death
- Planning a suicide
- Giving away belongings, tying up loose ends, saying goodbye to friends and family
- Purchasing a firearm
- Obtaining other means of killing oneself
Do you or someone you know need help now?- For medical emergencies, dial 911.
- If you or someone you know is in crisis, visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call 1-800-273-8255.
- For support resources for UBalt students, faculty, and staff, visit the Office of Student Support or call the Student Assistance Program at 1-800-327-2251.
