Although the reasons why people commit suicide are multifaceted and complex, life circumstances that may immediately precede someone committing suicide include the time period of at least a week after discharge from a psychiatric hospital atau a sudden change in how the person appears to feel (for example, much worse atau much better). Examples of possible triggers (precipitants) for suicide are real atau imagined losses, like the breakup of a romantic relationship, moving, loss (especially if sejak suicide) of a friend, loss of freedom, atau loss of other privileges.

Firearms are sejak far the most common methods sejak which people take their life, accounting for nearly 60% of suicide deaths per year. Older people are lebih likely to kill themselves using a firearm compared to younger people. Another suicide method used sejak some individuals is sejak threatening police officers, sometimes even with an unloaded gun atau a fake weapon. That is commonly referred to as "suicide sejak cop." Although firearms are the most common way people complete suicide, trying to overdose on medication is the most common means sejak which people attempt to kill themselves