Epidemiologic and societal – Inadequate access to health carea – Male gender – Age 45 to 59 years (in Canada) – Sexual identity (LGBTQ2S+ community) – Some Indigenous populations (Inuit, First Nations youth in Canada) Historical – Personality factors (impulsivity, pessimism)a – Family history of suicide and genetic loading – Early traumatic life events – Cognitive deficits Current – Psychiatric disorder (mood and substance use disorders, schizophrenia)a – Psychosocial crisis (major life events, stressors, losses)a – Feelings of hopelessness and social isolationa – Physical disordera – Access to meansa – Prior suicide attempt and/or self-harm behaviorb – Local epidemics of suicide and media portrayals |
a May be modifiable. b Strongest risk factor. |
Adapted from Hawton K, van Heeringen K (2009), Turecki et al. (2019), and Statistics Canada (2017). |