Suicide doesn’t happen in isolation. It is often influenced by the world around us — our jobs, income, housing, education, and childhood experiences.
A recent study by members of our NSRF team, and funded by the National Office for Suicide Prevention, reviewed a wide range of international research to better understand how these life circumstances — also called social determinants — can affect suicide risk.
The study found that people experiencing financial stress, unemployment, or difficult early life experiences were more likely to die by suicide. Poor housing and lower levels of education also showed some links, but more high-quality research is needed in these areas.
Importantly, the study highlights that while individual support and mental health care are crucial, we also need to address the bigger picture — like tackling poverty, improving social protection, and supporting vulnerable children.
This research is a call to action: preventing suicide means creating fairer, more supportive environments for everyone.
*Kerrie Gallagher and Grace Phillips contributed equally to this work and share joint first authorship.
