What causes suicidal thoughts and behaviour?
No single factor on its own causes a suicide. Suicidal thoughts and behaviour can occur in children and teens from a wide range of backgrounds. In addition, suicide and suicide attempts typically result from many factors. These include stressful life events and existing mental health conditions.
Stressful life events
Stressful events may lead a young person to feel overwhelmed or trapped in a situation where they cannot see a way out. Examples of stressful events include a relationship break-up, conflict with family or friends, bullying (online and face-to-face), failing a test or experiencing a loss such as a death or the divorce of their parents. For some people, a stressful event may be "the final straw" that leads to thoughts of ending their life.
When a child or teen is experiencing an ongoing stressful event, such as a conflict with family or friends or ongoing difficulties with school performance, it can sometimes be more difficult for them to identify it. They may be embarrassed to confide in others or may worry about their parents' (or others') reactions.
It is important to help your child think about any stressful events in their lives and the impact that these might have on them. Talking to your child about stressful events lets them know that you are interested and available to them for support when they need it.
Mental health conditions
A number of mental health conditions can increase a teen's risk for suicide. These include: