1. The Many Paths to Suicide
Risk Factors
Triggers
Means
Demographic
Poison
Expelled
Arrested
Age
Sex
Gun
Race
Geog-raphy
Fired
Sexual Orientation
Hanging
Personal History
Increasing Hopelessness Contemplation of Suicide as Solution
Culture Shock/
Shift
Model for Suicide
Com-mitted
WALL OF RESISTANCE
Values
Beliefs
Religion
Child Abuse ?
Autocide
Jumping
Psychological Status
Major Loss ?
Substance Use ?
Personality Traits ?
Divorced
Diagnosis

2. WALL OF RESISTANCE TO SUICIDE PROTECTIVE FACTORS
RELIGION/SPIRITUAL
(PROHIBITION)
SOBRIETY
BEST FRIENDS
MEDICATION COMPLIANCE
COUNSELOR/
THERAPIST
DUTIES TO OTHERS
PETS
FEAR
(PAIN, DISGRACE,ETC.)
RESPONSIBILITY FOR CHILDREN
JOB SECURITY
JOB SKILLS
GOOD HEALTH
SAFETY AGREEMENT
TREATMENT
AVAILABILITY (HOPE)
POSITIVE SELF-ESTEEM
These are some key protective factors. The more “bricks in the wall’ the better. One risk assessment approach, developed by David Jobes at the Catholic University of America, is to ask the client how many reasons for living and reasons for dying he/she has. If the individual can’t list a few reasons for living, you’re in trouble. This wall includes many reasons for living. Consistent with the Philosophy of Care, one of our strategies is to identify, reinforce or develop as many protective factors as we can.
Religion and religiosity are considered protective factors
Organized religion provides a support system and social network
Spirituality can be a coping resource
Religious people are much less likely than non-religious people to abuse drugs and alcohol
Many religious persons morally object to suicide
Responsibility for one or more children is a powerful protective factor against suicide in women
CALM AFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENT
SUPPORTIVE SIGNIFICANT OTHERS
DIFFICULT ACCESS TO MEANS ? ? ? ?