Risk Factors for Suicide: What therapists should know when treating teens and adults
Curt and Katie chat about suicide risk factors. Suicide rates have been increasing across the nation and there is an increasing need for the mental health workforce to be prepared to assess and intervene with clients of all ages. We take an in-depth look at the risk and protective factors associated with suicidal ideology and behaviors in both teens and adults. We also lay the beginning foundations of a suicide model to help clinicians better understand and intervene with clients exhibiting suicidal thoughts. This is a continuing education podcourse.
Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!
In this podcast episode we explore what makes someone more likely to attempt suicide
We’ve talked frequently about suicide, but thought it would be important, especially during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, to go more deeply into the risk factors that make someone more likely to attempt and complete suicide.
What are the highest risk factors for suicide?
“Anxiety Sensitivity… the fear of the feelings of being anxious… is even more so correlated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts than depression is.” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT
- Defining acute, active suicidality (versus passive or chronic suicidality or non-suicidal self-Injury)
- Going beyond the list of risk factors to how big of a risk each factor is for attempting or completing suicide
- Exploring how impactful a previous attempt is on whether someone is likely to attempt of complete suicide
- The importance of getting a complete history of suicidality and suicide attempts at intake
- The impact of family members who have attempted or died by suicide
- Alcohol and other substance use and abuse as an additive risk factor
- Cooccurring mental disorders (eating disorders, psychosis and serious mental illness, depression, anxiety and anxiety sensitivity, personality disorders)
- Child abuse history, especially folks with a history of sexual abuse history
- Life transitions, especially unplanned and sudden life transitions
- Owning a firearm makes you 50 times more likely to die by suicide
- Racial differences in who is more likely to attempt or complete suicide
- Living at a high elevation
What are additional risk factors for suicide specific to teens?
- Early onset of mental illness
- Environmental factors
- Exposure to other suicides (social media, contagion)
- Not being able to identify other options
- Seeking control over their lives and lacking impulse control leading to suicide attempts
- The importance of communication and the potential for a lack of communication
- Bullying and lack of social support, without a way to escape due to social media and cell phones
What are protective factors when assessing for suicidality?
“Just because protective factors are present doesn't mean that they balance out risk factors [for suicide].”– Curt Widhalm, LMFT
- Reasons for living, responsibility to others
- Spirituality or attending a place of worship that teaches against suicide
- Where you live based on cultural or societal factors
- Having a children or child-rearing responsibilities, intact marriage
- Strong social support, employment
- Relationship with a therapist
Suicide Model: Integrated Motivational Volitional Model by O’Connor and Kirtley
