Article: An individual's experiences, both recent and distant, can also make one more likely to attempt suicide.  The death of a loved one, the loss of a job, a serious illness (especially involving chronic pain), bullying, and other highly stressful life events can act as triggers for suicide and put someone at greater risk.  Of particular concern is whether a person has tried to commit suicide before. Someone who has previously attempted suicide is likely to try again. In fact, one-fifth of the people who die by suicide have made a previous attempt.  A history of physical or sexual abuse also puts one at a higher risk of suicide. The presence of an underlying mental health disorder, such as bipolar disorder, major depression, or schizophrenia, or a history of such disorders, is a major risk factor. In fact, 90 percent of suicide cases are linked to depression or another mental illness, and 66 percent of people who think seriously about suicide have a mental disorder of some kind.  Disorders characterized by anxiety or agitation (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder) and poor impulse-control (e.g., bipolar disorder, conduct disorders, substance disorders) are the most likely risk factors for making a suicide plan and a suicide attempt. The symptoms of mental illnesses that raise the risk of suicide include intense anxiety, panic attacks, desperation, hopelessness, feeling that one is a burden, loss of interest and pleasure, and delusional thinking.  While the statistical relationship between suicide and depression is a complicated one, the majority of people who die from a suicide attempt have major depression.  People with more than one mental health problem are at especially high risk of suicide. Having two mental disorders nearly doubles the risk of suicide, and three nearly triples the risk of suicide when compared to people who endure one mental disorder. Scientists aren't certain yet whether the central cause is the environment, heredity, or a combination of both, but suicide does seem to run in families. At least some research suggests there is a genetic cause for this relationship, so even if someone was not raised by their biological parents, this may be a risk factor. Environmental influences in one's family life also may play a role. While anyone can become suicidal, statistically speaking, some social groups have higher rates of suicide than others. If someone you know may be at risk, consider the following:  Males are more likely to commit suicide. For every age group and ethnicity, the rate of suicide for males is quadruple the rate for females. In fact, men account for 79% of all suicides.  Regardless of gender, LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) individuals are four times more likely to commit suicide.  Older people are more likely to commit suicide than young people. People between the ages of 45 and 59 have the highest suicide rate, and people older than 74 years have the second highest rate of suicide.  Native Americans and Caucasians (whites) are also statistically more likely to commit suicide than other ethnic groups. These trends don't mean you shouldn't be worried about someone who is not in one of these high risk groups.  If the person you are concerned about displays signs of being suicidal, regardless of their gender or age, take their situation seriously. However, if someone is part of one of these groups, their risk may be higher.

What is a summary?
Consider life history and current circumstances. Consider the individual's mental health. Investigate any family history of suicide. Consider the demographics of suicide.