The CDC discusses suicide risk factors.
"Suicide Prevention: Risk and Protective Factors," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, accessed September 28, 2021
There are some individual characteristics and things we can do in communities that may help protect people from suicidal thoughts and behavior. There is not as much research about these protective factors as there is about risk factors, but identifying and understanding them is very important.
Protective Factors:
Coping and problem-solving skills
Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide
Connections to friends, family, and community support
Supportive relationships with care providers
Availability of physical and mental health care
Limited access to lethal means among people at risk