Mental or physical disorders

The information below is again based on information from the American Association of Suicidology¹, and lists various mental and physical disorders that would give a person an increased likelihood of committing suicide. It should be noted that these type of risk factors are all treatable/capable of being modified.

• Psychiatric disorders, especially:

  • Mood disorder (particularly depression)

  • Anxiety disorder

  • Schizophrenia

  • Substance use disorder (alcohol abuse or drug abuse/dependence)

  • Eating disorders

  • Body dysmorphic disorder (an anxiety disorder where someone is excessively concerned about and preoccupied by a perceived defect in their physical features)

  • Conduct disorder (a pattern of repetitive behaviour where the rights of others or social norms are violated - symptoms include verbal and physical aggression, cruel behaviour toward people and pets, destructive behaviour, lying, truancy, vandalism, and stealing)

• More than one psychiatric disorder at the same time (depression and alcohol misuse being particularly dangerous)

• A psychiatric disorder and an Axis II personality disorder (especially if the Axis II disorder is antisocial or borderline personality disorders) or an Axis III medical disorder

• Axis II personality disorder, especially category B (Category A: paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal; Category B: antisocial, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic; Category C: avoidant, dependant, obsessive-compulsive). See Axis II personality disorders for more information.

• Axis III medical disorders (brain injuries and other medical/physical disorders which may aggravate existing diseases or present symptoms similar to other disorders, especially if it involves functional impairment and/or chronic pain)

• Traumatic brain injury

• Low self-esteem/high self-hate

• Tolerant/accepting attitude toward suicide

• Lack of acceptance by someone or their family of their sexual orientation

• Smoking

• Perfectionism (especially in context of depression)