The first step in preventing suicide is to identify and understand the risk factors.  Risk factors are anything that increase the likelihood that a person will harm himself and are not necessarily causes.

• Previous suicide attempts
• History of mental disorders, particularly depression
• History of alcohol or substance abuse
• Family history of suicide
• Family history of child mistreatment
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Impulsive or aggressive tendencies
• Barriers to accessing mental health treatment
• Loss (relationship, social, work or financial)
• Physical illness
• Easy access to lethal methods
• Unwillingness to seek help because of the stigma attached to mental illness
• Cultural or religious beliefs
• Local epidemics of suicide
• Feelings of isolation

SOURCE:  Center for Disease Control and Prevention