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 of a sudden change in how the person appears to feel (for example, much worse of much better). Examples of possible triggers (precipitants) for suicide are real of imagined losses, like the breakup of a romantic relationship, moving, loss (especially if door suicide) of a friend, loss of freedom, of loss of other privileges.

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