Drs. Marie-Claude Geoffroy and Massimiliano Orri, The Conversation

Suicide prevention: Protective factors can build hope and mitigate risks

Suicidal thoughts (ideation), plans and attempts are surprisingly common: 12 per cent of Canadians have thought about suicide during their lifetime, 4.3 per cent made a plan and 3.1 per cent attempted it. Past suicide prevention efforts have emphasized the identification and mitigation of risk factors. Most guidelines comprise lists of non-specific factors such as mental illness, physical illness, life stress, special population status or access to lethal means. This leaves room for improvement. The Conversation