Individual Strategies To Reduce Risk Factors

• Reduce time spent unoccupied
• Increase connection with community and family
• Become familiar with who is available to assist in your community – elders, respected community members, police, ambulance
• Increase sense of responsibility for impact of their suicide on others
• Organise the presence of a significant other adult for a young person, or a spouse or partner
• Increase personal resilience
• Enhance problem solving skills - acknowledge suicide is never the best option
• Strengthen the belief that suicidal thoughts are a risk to life
• Improve physical and mental health
• Strong spiritual or religious faith[1] or a sense of meaning and purpose to life is protective
• Remove any means that can be used for self-harm

[1] De Leo, D., Hickey, P. A., Neulinger, K., & Cantor, H. (2001). Ageing and suicide. Canberra, Australia: Department of Health and Aged Care.