Which are risk factors for adolescent suicide?

Which are risk factors for adolescent suicide?

• A. Depression, previous suicide attempts, poor school performance, dysfunctional families, and social isolation.
• B. Excellent family functioning, high GPA, and strong social support only.
• C. Regular exercise and balanced diet.
• D. Vaccination status.

Answer: (A)

The key concept is recognizing factors that increase suicide risk in adolescents. The best choice lists depression, a history of previous suicide attempts, poor school performance, dysfunctional families, and social isolation. Each of these raises risk: depression is a major mental health condition linked to suicidal thoughts and behavior; a prior attempt signals a higher likelihood of future attempts and ongoing risk; academic problems can reflect underlying distress and reduce self-esteem or engagement; dysfunctional family environments often mean less emotional support and supervision; social isolation removes important protective connections to peers and trusted adults. In contrast, items like excellent family functioning, high GPA, and strong social support are protective factors that help reduce risk. Regular exercise and a balanced diet support overall health but are not specific risk factors for suicidality, and vaccination status is unrelated to suicide risk.

The key concept is recognizing factors that increase suicide risk in adolescents. The best choice lists depression, a history of previous suicide attempts, poor school performance, dysfunctional families, and social isolation. Each of these raises risk: depression is a major mental health condition linked to suicidal thoughts and behavior; a prior attempt signals a higher likelihood of future attempts and ongoing risk; academic problems can reflect underlying distress and reduce self-esteem or engagement; dysfunctional family environments often mean less emotional support and supervision; social isolation removes important protective connections to peers and trusted adults.

In contrast, items like excellent family functioning, high GPA, and strong social support are protective factors that help reduce risk. Regular exercise and a balanced diet support overall health but are not specific risk factors for suicidality, and vaccination status is unrelated to suicide risk.