Protective factors are personal or environmental characteristics that help protect people from suicide. These include:
Individual Protective Factors
These personal factors protect against suicide risk:
- Effective coping and problem-solving skills
- Reasons for living (for example, family, friends, pets, etc.)
- Strong sense of cultural identity
Relationship Protective Factors
These healthy relationship experiences protect against suicide risk:
- Support from partners, friends, and family
- Feeling connected to others
Community Protective Factors
These supportive community experiences protect against suicide risk:
- Feeling connected to school, community, and other social institutions
- Availability of consistent and high quality physical and behavioral healthcare
Societal Protective Factors
These cultural and environmental factors within the larger society protect against suicide risk:
- Reduced access to lethal means of suicide among people at risk
- Cultural, religious, or moral objections to suicide
However, positive resistance to suicide is not permanent, so programs that support and maintain protection against suicide should be ongoing.