Causes of Suicide
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Despite being a leading cause of death, both in the UK and worldwide, there is little hard evidence to explain why some people attempt suicide.
Most people who choose to end their lives do so for complex reasons. In the UK, research has shown many people who die by suicide have a mental illness, most commonly depression or an alcohol problem.
In many cases, suicide is also linked to feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness.
Vulnerability to suicide
Many experts believe a number of things determine how vulnerable a person is to suicidal thinking and behaviour. These include:
- life history – for example, having a traumatic experience during childhood, a history of sexual or physical abuse, or a history of parental neglect
- mental health – for example, developing a serious mental
- health condition, such as schizophrenia lifestyle – for example, if you misuse drugs or misuse alcohol
- employment – such as poor job security, low levels of job satisfaction or being unemployed
- relationships...
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