What do risk factors represent in the context of suicide?

Risk factors in the context of suicide refer to characteristics or conditions that increase an individual’s likelihood of experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviors. These can include a range of factors such as mental health disorders, previous suicide attempts, substance abuse, family history of suicide, and exposure to trauma or violence. Understanding these risk factors is crucial for mental health professionals as they help identify individuals who may be at higher risk and in need of intervention.

While strategies for intervention are important for addressing and mitigating risk, they do not represent what risk factors are. Likewise, challenges individuals face, though they may be relevant to understanding a person's context, do not specifically define risk factors. Personal beliefs about mortality also do not encapsulate the broader range of characteristics that influence suicidal behavior. Therefore, characterizing risk factors as characteristics that increase susceptibility to suicide captures the critical essence of how they influence an individual’s risk profile.