In conducting a suicide risk assessment, it is also important to consider protective factors [556]. Protective factors can be any values, beliefs, supports or reasons that a person may have for living. Protective factors can vary, but their existence offers protection against suicide, with more stable factors offering greater protection than fewer unstable factors [545]. For example, a person with hopeful plans for the future, with good physical health and a stable daily routine may be less likely to attempt suicide than an isolated, physically unwell person with no social support. It is critical to note, however, that no single protective factor is a reliable indicator that a person is completely safe [545]. The mnemonic ‘SHORES’ (see Table 33) may be useful in assisting AOD workers remember protective factors.
Some examples of protective factors include [545]:
- Strong social connections (i.e., one or more people that a person feels comfortable confiding in) which may be family, a partner, peers or a community a person feels part of. For this to be an effective protective factor, the person must be willing to seek help from their social supports if needed (i.e., their existence alone is not protection).
- Stability across multiple areas of a person’s life, such as housing, employment, daily routine, physical health, religious or cultural values.
- Hopeful plans for the future.
- Personal skills and attributes which may offer protection against suicidal thoughts and behaviours, such as resilience, problem solving skills, strong self-esteem, self-worth, optimism, and empathy.