Resiliency Factors for Suicidal Behaviours

The presence of resiliency factors can lessen the potential of risk factors to lead to suicidal ideation (thoughts) and behaviours. Once a child or adolescent is considered at risk, then schools, families, and friends should work to build these factors in and around the youth.

Resiliency factors include:

• Family support and cohesion
• Good family communication
• Parent involvement and engagement
• Peer support and close social networks
• School connectedness
• Cultural or religious beliefs that discourage suicide
• Adaptive coping and problem-solving skills
• Good conflict-resolution skills
• General life satisfaction
• Ties to neighborhood and community
• High self-esteem
• Easy access to mental health resources
• Restricted access to lethal means (guns)
• Feeling that one has a purpose in life
• Effective medical and mental health care