Which mental health condition is most commonly associated with suicide risk?

• A. Anxiety
• B. Depression
• C. Dementia
• D. Delusion

Answer: (B)

Depression is most closely associated with suicide risk. In major depressive disorder, persistent hopelessness, worthlessness, and emotional pain can overwhelm a person’s coping abilities, and when paired with energy loss, sleep and appetite changes, and social withdrawal, the urge to escape suffering can become powerful. The risk increases with greater severity and longer duration, and is higher if there’s a history of prior attempts, substance use, or limited social support. While anxiety, dementia, and delusional disorders can involve distress and risk in some individuals, depression has the strongest and most consistent link to suicidality across populations. In caregiving, this means actively screening for suicidal thoughts in someone with depressive symptoms and taking steps to ensure safety and access to professional help.