According to Cheng, research in Taiwan and abroad has consistently demonstrated that severe depression, alcohol and drug addiction, psychological instability and personality disorders, and suicidal behavior by close blood relatives are all clear contributing factors to suicide. Moreover, Dr. George Brown, a fellow of the British Academy, stresses that the experience of loss events also plays a decisive role as a catalyst for suicide.
鄭泰安表示，國內外的研究一致支持，與自殺明顯相關的因素除了「重度憂鬱症」、「酒精藥物成癮」、「情緒不穩定與性格違常」、「一等血親有自殺行為」等，還有一項由英國人文社會科學院院士布朗提出的因素──失落的生活事件，也扮演著舉足輕重的催化作用。