Suicidality Risk Assessment Flashcards
(12 cards)
What are key warning phrases that signal suicide risk?
“I want to die,” “I can’t take this anymore,” “Everyone would be better off without me,” “I’ve been thinking about ending it,” “I have a plan.”
What are key risk indicators for suicide in an NCMHCE scenario?
Past suicide attempts
Access to means (e.g., gun, pills)
Specific plan
Recent loss or trauma
Hopelessness
Substance use
Isolation
What should you assess first if a client mentions suicide?1. Ideation – Are they thinking about suicide?
- Plan – Do they have a specific plan?
- Means – Do they have access?
- Intent – Do they intend to follow through?
What does the acronym P-L-A-N stand for in suicide risk assessment?
P – Plan
L – Lethality
A – Access
N – Nearness to help or support
What are the steps of a basic safety plan?
- Warning signs
- Internal coping strategies
- Social support/contact list
- Professional contacts
- Reducing access to means
- Commitment to safety
When should you hospitalize a suicidal client?
When the client has a lethal plan and intent
When they refuse to commit to safety
When they are actively psychotic or intoxicated
What is a counselor’s priority when a client reveals suicidal intent with a plan?
Ensure safety first—assess intent, contact emergency services, initiate hospitalization if needed.
If a client says they thought about suicide “last month but not recently,” what should the counselor do?
Still assess current ideation, intent, and protective factors. Past ideation increases risk.
True or False: A client must have a plan to be at high risk of suicide.
False. A client without a specific plan may still be at high risk due to other factors (e.g., hopelessness, prior attempts, substance use).
What should you document after a suicide risk assessment?
What the client said (ideation, plan, access, intent)
Your assessment and clinical judgment
Interventions (e.g., safety plan, referral, hospitalization)
Client’s response and follow-up plan
What interventions can reduce access to lethal means?
Removing firearms or medications
Involving family or emergency contact
Locking up sharp objects
Monitoring client closely
What does “contracting for safety” mean, and is it recommended?
It means the client verbally agrees not to harm themselves. Not sufficient alone—use a written safety plan and clinical judgment.
