Long-term risk factors

Genetic or biological influences

• Family history of depression
• Family history of alcohol or other substance misuse

Psychological characteristics

• Black-and-white, all-or- nothing, or rigid thinking
• Excessive perfectionism
• Hopelessness, with bleak and pessimistic views of the future
• Impulsivity, tending to do things on the spur of the moment
• Low self-esteem with feelings of worthlessness
• Poor problem solving skills, with difficulty in thinking of alternative solutions

Social influences

• Family history of suicide or attempted suicide

Short-term risk factorsSocio-environmental factors

• Divorced, separated or widowed
• Being older and/or retired
• Having little social support
• Being unemployed

Psychiatric diagnosis

• Depression
• Substance misuse (including alcohol)
• Schizophrenia (Also personality disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic attacks or panic disorder)

Protective factors

• The absence of risk factors
• Opposites of dysfunctional psychological characteristics

Additional protective factors

• Hopefulness
• Receiving mental health care
• Having responsibility for children
• Having strong social supports and feeling supported

Precipitating factors

• Recent loss or separation
• Imprisonment or threat of imprisonment
• Interpersonal problems, particularly humiliating social events
• Recent job loss
• Recent reminders of past deaths or other significant losses
• School or work problems
• Unwanted pregnancy
• Financial problems
• Health concerns