Suicide and suicidal thoughts

Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Get Started

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer

Causes

By Mayo Clinic staff

Suicide and suicidal thoughts have numerous causes. Most often, suicidal thoughts are the result of an inability to cope when you're faced with what seems to be an overwhelming life situation — financial problems, a personal crisis, emotional turmoil and despair, for instance. If you don't have hope for the future, you may think suicide is a solution when, in fact, it's not. You may experience a sort of tunnel vision, where in the middle of a crisis you believe suicide is the only way out.

Emerging evidence suggests that there may also be a genetic link to suicide. People who complete suicide or who have suicidal thoughts or behavior are more likely to have a family history of suicide. While more research is needed to fully understand a possible genetic component, it's thought that there may be a genetic link to impulsive behavior that could lead to suicide.

DS01062

March 28, 2008

© 1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Reliable tools for healthier lives," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Print Share Reprints

Text Size: smaller largerlarger