What are the most common risk factors for suicide?
Dr. Silverman: As I said earlier, a major risk factor is psychiatric illness. Suicidal behaviors are all highly associated with the presence of major affective disorders, schizophrenia, general anxiety disorder, eating disorders, and alcohol or other drug abuse. A family history of suicide is a risk factor, as well. This suggests that either there is a genetic component to the process or that prior exposure to individuals who have died by suicide confers an increased risk. A major risk factor is a history of a prior suicide attempt. The highest suicide rates are in the 15 to 24 year olds and people over 65, so age is a factor. Gender is a factor since more men die by suicide than women. Race or ethnicity plays a role as more Caucasians die by suicide than any other racial group. Marital status is also a factor. Another way of putting that is that those individuals who are engaged in a close social support system, either family or spouse or significant other, seem to be at lower risk th
