Biological risk factors for suicide include:

• Low cerebrospinal fluid 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid levels

• Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation

• Low blood cholesterol levels

• Medical or neurological illnesses (such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, Huntington disease, and epilepsy)

• Cigarette smoking

Psychological risk factors include:

• Acceptability of suicide

• A childhood history of physical or sexual abuse

• Discouraged help-seeking behavior

• Aggressive/impulsive traits

• Pessimism

• Hopelessness

• Low self-esteem

• Poor access to psychiatric treatment

More proximal stressors that indicate an increased suicide risk include:

• Relationship problems

• Financial troubles

• A family or personal history of suicide

• Major depression

• Substance use