ABSTRACT
Suicide is one of the leading causes of premature mortality among young people. Related to suicide are suicide attempts, suicidal ideation and deliberate self- harm. These ‘suicidal behaviours’ are risk factors for ongoing suicidal behaviours and completed suicide. They are more common than completed suicide in young people and are associated with a range of other poor outcomes, such as premature mortality from other causes, persistent mental and physical health problems, violence and poor functioning. This chapter examines risk factors for suicidal behaviours, including distal risk factors such as childhood adversity, personality factors, sexual orientation and psychiatric disorders, and more proximal factors such as stressful life events, substance misuse and bullying. Publicity around suicide and the media portrayal of it are also discussed as possible risk factors in vulnerable young people. Suicide prevention approaches are also discussed. Universal strategies, aimed at the whole population, include reducing access to means of suicide and education programs, while more targeted strategies focus on training professionals to identify young people at risk. Finally, the evidence for different interventions for those already displaying suicidal behaviour is also described.
