SLIDE 3 Individuals at Risk
S uicide can impact anyone who experiences crisis. However some groups are more prone to attempt or commit suicide.
The elderly – Feelings of loneliness, loss of friends or spouse, loss of income and independence, and declining health
- ften make older persons consider suicide as an alternative. •
Y
- ung adults and college students – Overwhelmed with independence and responsibility for the first time, pressured to
succeed in college or on the j ob, caught in abusive relationships and faced with a world they seemingly cannot change, many young adults are overwhelmed and see suicide as an escape. •
Business people and professionals –The pressures to succeed and disappointment over unfulfilled dreams place business people and professionals at risk. Layoffs from employment can have a huge impact on an individual’s mental health and can lead to suicidal thoughts.
Native Americans – Life on the reservation, with its high rates of unemployment and substance abuse, and an exclusion from society's mainstream have led to suicide rates on some reservations five times that of the general population.
Minorities-Despair as a result of discrimination can result in suicidal thoughts.
Low income- Hopelessness caused by poverty, unemployment, and a feeling of being trapped are causes of suicide.
Children – Depression brought on by child abuse, neglect, bullying and an inability to communicate feelings or ask for help has led children as young as five years of age to commit suicide.
