Summarize this article in one sentence.
If you are worried that your parent may be considering suicide, look for these outward signs and risk factors so that you can catch the problem before it's too late: Past suicidal attempts. This is one of the biggest risk factors for actual suicide. Outbursts of rage. Although this can signal other things as well, it's a common indication of suicidal intent. Increased risk-taking behavior, such as drinking and driving. A parent who feels suicidal may start to care less about personal safety. Behavior isn't the only indication of being suicidal; you can read the signs in what he talks about as well. Talk of suicidal intent. Your parent may explicitly state how he feels. Self-hatred. This is a strong ingredient of suicidal thinking. Being a burden. As many suicidal parents feel guilty, it's likely they will feel like they are burdening those in close proximity, including you. Despite what some people may think, suicide is not as much of a choice as it is a combination of natural forces and factors. Some of these forces are: Mental illness. 90% or more of people who commit suicide had a mental illness at the time of their death. The most common illnesses are depression and other mood disorders, substance abuse disorder, schizophrenia, and personality disorders such as bi-polar and borderline. Serious medical issues. Cancer, HIV, and other illnesses can cause people to experience hopelessness and other desperate emotions which sometimes result in suicide. Biological factors. Research shows that people who commit suicide often have differences in brain structure, especially the areas of the brain related to mood, thinking, and stress response. Environmental stress. Things like prolonged bullying have been linked to an increased risk for suicide. Suicide is often thought of as a solution to a problem. A suicidal parent is trying to escape from a variety of problems and painful realities. Believing that the people in their life are better off without them. Failure to live up to personal standards. Many people who want to commit suicide are wrestling with unrealistically high standards for themselves and their lives. Self-blame. These people blame themselves for not measuring up to the tasks of life, unrealistic or not. High awareness of failure, so that they are constantly and painfully aware of how much they're failing to match their ideal self. Anxiety and pain result from these issues. The state of mind that sometimes ends in suicide is extremely painful and hard to bear. "Cognitive deconstruction," which refers to how people think about their lives as a simple, unchanging experience of sadness and pain. Finally, disinhibition, or the final step that comes about when a person thinks that a drastic measure such as suicide is necessary to overcome their current predicament.
Watch for signs of suicidal behavior. Listen for suicidal thoughts and ideas. Learn about suicide's causes. Understand the suicidal state of mind.