Why do some young people die by suicide?
Everyone who is touched by a youth suicide, or is simply curious, asks this question. Unfortunately, there is no easy answer, because each person who dies takes the reasons with them.
Suicide researchers have offered some general theories around the risk and protective factors related to suicide.
The risk factors affecting a person's life seem to fall into four areas:
Biological | Sociological | Psychological | Existential |
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But there are also four areas of potentially protective factors as well:
Family | Community | School | The Individual |
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Life can feel like a series of random factors that we cannot always control but it is actually a balance between the risk factors and the protective factors in our lives. If we have more risk factors than protective factors then our sense of balance and self-worth can be lost, and if we have risk factors in all four areas then the risk of suicide is increased further.
However Protective factors can bring things back into balance. Sometimes just one person showing that they care or asking the right question is enough to prevent a tragedy.
Please remember that Suicide Prevention Works!!
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What can you do? Use our 4 steps to help:
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Watching |
2 |
Showing |
3 |
Asking |
4 |
Helping |