There are certain characteristics that have been found in those who are more likely to repeat an attempted suicide.

These characteristics include: age of 45 or more; the fact of being male; a previous attempt which resulted in hospital admission; problems with drugs or alcohol; suffering from a personality disorder; living alone (especially if separated, divorced, or widowed); previous history of psychiatric treatment, criminal record, unemployment and lower social class.

In spite of this relatively high repetition rate risk, many patients experience considerable improvement in their social and psychological difficulties soon after their attempts, although it is often unclear whether this is the result of treatment, natural resolution of the crisis or the effect of the attempt itself (in terms of getting the attention needed from other people).