Suicide Risk Assessment
There are no perfect risk assessment tools
some risk assessment tools
Trying to determine intent:
- What did you think would happen when you did [x]?
- How do you feel now that you're not dead, and you're here talking to me?
Columbia suicide severity rating scale
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Have you wished you were dead or wished you could go to sleep and not wake up?
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Have you actually had any thoughts about killing yourself?
If Yes to 2, ask Q3-6
If No to 2, skip to Q6 -
Have you been thinking about how you might do this?
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Have you had these thoughts and had some intention of acting on them? (high risk)
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Have you started to work out or worked out the details of how to kill yourself? Did you intend to carry out this plan? (high risk)
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Have you done any thing, started to do anything, or prepared to do anything to end your life?
- If yes, was this within the past 3 months? (high risk)
SAD PERSONS - limited evidence for its use...
- Sex (+1 if male)
- Age +1 if <19 or >45
- Depression +2 if present
- Previous suicide attempt or psych care +1 if present
- Excess alcohol or drug use +1
- Rational thinking disrupted +2
- Separated, widowed, divorced +1
- Organised or serious attempt +2
- No social support +1
- Stated future attempt/ambivalence +2
<6: may be safe to discharge
6-8: specialist rv
8: high risk