The reasons why someone may feel suicidal are often very complex and may be linked to mental health conditions such as depression. But there are things that make it more likely for you to have suicidal thoughts:

• Something has happened in your life that has upset you. Perhaps you are being bullied or you have not got the exam results you wanted. Perhaps you have split up with a partner or someone close to you has died.
• Your life has changed and you are finding it hard to cope with. Perhaps you have recently retired or your family has just left home. Perhaps you are having financial difficulties.
• You have been drinking heavily or using illegal drugs.
• Someone close to you has taken their own life.
• You are suffering from depression or another mental illness.

Often, there is no single, clear reason why you are thinking about suicide. A run of small problems or bad luck, or simply a gradual build-up of hurt and pressure over time, can wear you down until you begin to have suicidal thoughts.

Most people who have thoughts of suicide do not really want to die, but suicide may seem the only way out from their problems or an end to the unhappiness they are feeling. In this state of mind it is often difficult to think clearly.

Who is at risk of suicide?

Some groups of people are known to be at particular risk of suicide as they have unique difficulties to face.

Older people

Until fairly recently, the suicide rate among the elderly was much higher than in other age groups, but now suicide rates in younger people are higher. Older people are particularly vulnerable because they are more likely to have to deal with the death of loved ones, to be lonely, and to have physical ill health.

Also, depression in older people may be overlooked in favour of treating the physical conditions that come with old age.

Other at-risk groups

Other groups at risk include:

• People with serious mental health problems, such as severe depression, bipolar disorder (manic depression) or schizophrenia, particularly when they have recently been discharged from a psychiatric unit.
• People with disabling or painful physical illnesses.
• People who may feel isolated within society. Gay men and lesbians, students, the homeless, immigrants, old people and those in prison are at particular risk.
• People who use illegal drugs or abuse alcohol. Alcohol and drugs affect reasoning, can act as a depressant and can cause someone to lose their inhibitions - making them more likely to attempt suicide.
• People who have suffered sexual or physical abuse.
• People who have attempted suicide or self-harmed before.