Underlying Factors/Influences:

• Family history
• Childhood experiences
• Psychological stress
• Impulsive, aggressive, neurotic personality types
• Low educational attainment
• High risk occupations
• Rural living
• Chronic physical illness
• Relationship difficulties
• Financial difficulties
• Gender issues
• Criminal justice issues

Possible Protective Factors:

• Clinical care for mental, physical and substance abuse issues
• Easy access to a variety of clinical interventions and support
• Support for seeking help
• Restricted access to highly lethal means of suicide
• Strong connections to family and community support
• Support through mental health care and medical relationships
• Problem-solving and conflict resolution approaches non-violent handling of disputes
• Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide and support self-preservation

Review of Evidence-Base and Best Practice – for Inclusion

1. A national multi-sectoral agency focus on suicide prevention
2. Policies restricting access to means of suicide
3. Raised awareness and de-stigmatisation of mental health issues:
* Promotion of positive mental health, resilience and coping skills to the entire community
* Targeted intervention to high risk groups
4. Early recognition of metal health problems and warning signs of suicide by the community and primary care professionals
5. Provision of and access to various levels of support and intervention services, including: Voluntary services, mental health services and alcohol and substance abuse services
6. Appropriate response to and follow-up for episodes of self-harm occurring in both adults and children
7. Appropriate responses to a completed suicide by provision of information and support for families and communities
8. Appropriate information provided to the media and careful reporting of suicide
9. Collection of surveillance data on self-harm and suicide
10. Improved understanding of factors that lead to suicide and self-harm and what works to prevent suicide and self-harm