Risk factors for adolescent suicide attempts include individual and social factors. Primary individual risk factors are history of suicide attempt, severity and frequency of suicidal thoughts, depressive disorders, alcohol and substance abuse, and conduct disorder (or a pattern of aggressive behavior) (as reviewed in Bridge et al. 2006). Social factors include social isolation and victimization via bullying, sexual abuse, or physical abuse (as reviewed in King and Merchant 2008). The existing evidence indicates that risk for suicide attempts and suicide is best conceptualized as multi-factorial.
