Why is this happening to me?
Nobody is safe from suicidal thoughts. There are also certain factors that can make people more fragile and vulnerable. It’s important to understand that not everyone who has experienced difficult events will necessarily think of suicide.
Sometimes a person can be more vulnerable to having suicidal thoughts because of various risk factors:
- Suicide attempt in the past
- Mental health problem (depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc.)
- Alcohol or drug dependence
- Victim of violence or physical or sexual abuse
- Family history of suicide
- Stressful situations (for example, failure at school), loss, or grieving
- Chronic physical illness
- Difficult experiences related to sexual orientation or gender identity
On the other hand, some people may be less at risk thanks to the following protective factors:
- Therapeutic support and treatment for mental health problems, substance abuse, or physical or sexual abuse
- Satisfactory family and social relations
- Good problem-solving and conflict resolution skills
- Good self-esteem and optimism
- Academic success and positive integration at school
- Healthy lifestyle (sleep, eating habits, physical exercise, etc.)