Suicidal Feelings

What causes suicidal feelings?

The underlying causes of suicidal feelings are likely to be a complex mix of personal and social factors: a run of problems or bad luck may feel overwhelming; a sudden personal crisis may trigger despair; or despair may build slowly.
The pressures and hurts of many years can wear down a person's self-esteem. It can also be anger that is bottled up and turned inwards. There may be an incident or problem just before a suicide attempt – but this is rarely the real cause. Just as a sense of despair can take years to build up, so suicidal feelings often develop gradually.

... when I was ten I was badly abused by a family friend. I've never told anyone. Since then I've kept myself to myself and have tried to take overdoses of painkillers. Whenever I'm at home with the family, I'm scared and feel lonely. I'd like to leave my family and start afresh... at the moment I feel like doing something I should have done years ago – to stab myself.

People who may be more at risk

Some groups of people appear particularly vulnerable to suicidal feelings.

People with mental health problems

People with serious mental health problems, such as bipolar disorder (manic depression) or schizophrenia, have a higher risk of dying by suicide than the general population. Delusional ideas may contribute to suicidal thoughts (people may hear voices, for example, urging them to kill themselves); however, this is not the most important factor. Depression is a common feature of such disorders and, when combined with a lack of social support and a sense of hopelessness about the future, can often lead someone with a serious mental health problem to take their own life.
There is a particular risk of suicide when someone is just beginning to recover from depression. They may have the energy to kill themselves that they lacked when they were severely depressed. One study estimated that 70 per cent of recorded suicides were by people who experienced depression. See 'Useful contacts'  for a list of organisations that can provide support on different conditions.

People with physical health problems

If someone has a long-standing or painful physical problem, they may become depressed, and this, in turn, makes them more prone to suicidal feelings. It is therefore important that carers and professionals are aware of this.

People who self-harm

People who deliberately harm themselves are not necessarily suicidal; however, research suggests that people who have self-harmed are more likely to try to kill themselves. Sometimes people may die of injuries caused by self-harm, even if they did not intend to kill themselves. Whether or not death is the objective, self-harm is not about seeking attention or playing games. Like suicidal feelings, self-harming behaviour may express a powerful sense of despair, and should be taken seriously. (See Understanding self-harm.)

People with a history of physical or sexual abuse

This puts young people at increased risk of suicide or deliberate self-harm.

Those experiencing relationship problems

Relationship problems, especially when there are disturbed family relationships, are sometimes in the background when someone attempts suicide. A number of people kill themselves after a serious argument with a partner.

People who misuse alcohol and drugs

People who misuse alcohol and drugs are at increased risk of suicide, especially if they are young men. These difficulties may already reflect painful, traumatic experiences, such as sexual abuse or early bereavement. (See Mental health effects of street drugs.)

People in poor social situations

Attempted suicide is higher among the unemployed than those in work. This is also true for homeless people.

Men

Men are more likely to take their own lives than women. The reason for this is not certain. It may be partly because men are less inclined to be open about their feelings. Women tend to talk more about their problems, and may therefore get help more often.

Young gay, lesbian and transgender people

Young gay men and lesbians are at risk too, possibly because of the discrimination they face in our society. Transgender people are also at increased risk of self-harm and suicide. In particular those who are visibly