Working with a client at increased risk of suicidality requires empathy, regular assessment, and continual awareness of their risk and protective factors.
The Suicide Risk Assessment is a tool for gathering information about a client’s current suicidality and past suicide attempts. This two-page handout covers the following areas:
- Thoughts of suicide
- Plan
- Means
- Protective factors
- Previous attempts
The open-ended nature of the assessment can help the client have an honest conversation, allowing for more detailed responses and a more accurate risk assessment. Note that this assessment is not diagnostic and cannot predict whether a client will attempt suicide.
