Linda Mintle, Ph.D.
Suicide is a complex issue with multiple contributing genetic and environmental factors. Mental illness is a key factor in identifying someone as having a predisposition for suicide. There are risk factors surrounding suicide, such as gender, age, race/ethnicity, marital status, geography, professions/occupations, economics, time of year, illness, and others. Methods are discussed, along with common triggers and general warning signs. Protective factors and prevention strategies are important in dealing with people in suicidal crisis.