Protective Factors

• Effective and appropriate care for mental, physical, and substance abuse disorders
• Easy access to a variety of clinical interventions and support for help seeking
• Restricted access to highly lethal methods of suicide
• Family and community support
• Support from ongoing medical and mental health care relationships
• Learned skills in problem solving, conflict resolution, and nonviolent handling of disputes
• Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide and support self-preservation
• Instincts
• Being a parent of a minor child living in one’s home