Suicide Risk Assessment and Intervention

Flashcards on suicide risk factors, assessment, and interventions based on lecture notes.

Warning signs/risks of suicide

Withdrawing from friends and family, talking about no sense of purpose, and making comments about being worthless

First question to ask when assessing suicide risk

Are you having thoughts of harming yourself?

Three elements of suicidal risk assessment

Specific plan with details, lethality of the proposed method, and access to the plan method

High-risk suicide methods

Methods that result in instantaneous death

Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale

A scale used in psychiatry to assess suicide severity.

Examples of direct or indirect statements indicating suicidal thoughts

I am such a burden. My loved ones would be better off without me. I need an escape from these negative thoughts. There is no future I want to live in.

Authoritative role in suicide intervention

Assuming an authoritative role to help clients feel safe by not allowing them to be alone and keeping them in a common area.

No suicide or no self-harm contract

Asking the patient to promise not to harm themselves while in the hospital and to call on staff if feeling suicidal, but it is not a guarantee of safety.

Interventions for suicide

Creating a safe environment and raising serotonin levels through antidepressants, but monitoring closely when depression begins to lift.

When severe depression begins to lift

The most dangerous time for depressed clients.

Safe interventions for suicidal individuals

One-to-one observation, fifteen-minute checks, and close observation.

988 hotline

A shorter hotline number for suicide crisis intervention.

Important part of MSE

Always ask your patients about suicide.

When the patient is asked of suicide plan what next ?

If they say yes, remember to ask what is your plan.