Suicide Prevention Summary

What is Risk?

PCFTTC leadership attended the Thomas Jefferson University. They heard from several suicide prevention experts (Dr. Berman; Dr. Anestis; Dr. Zullo). It is clear from the program YOU CAN’T PREDICT RISK, but you can be a “reasonable and prudent clinician.” And continuing to understand risk screening, assessment, the literature, and formulation are key to clinical work, as 1 in 3 professionals will have a client who kills themselves.

Several Important take aways:

1. Imminent risk is a legal word, not a clinical word.
2. A suicide screener (ASQ; Columbian) is not a suicide risk assessment.
3. Risk assessments involves as many resources as possible (collaterals too).
4. A suicide risk assessment isn’t a risk formulation.
5. Risk formulation is necessary to prove you are being a “Reasonable and Prudent Clinician.”
6. Risk formulations informs the entire treatment plan process/response plan/crisis plan.
7. A full risk assessment should be done on everyone, even when they don’t endorse on a suicide screener because it data. Data informs the risk formulation, that informs the clinical approach.
8. 95% of people who attempt suicide with a firearm die. Create means safety!

-Example NIH Decision Tree-

Do you see Screener vs. Assessment vs. Formulation?

Suicide Prevention Resources

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Spanish/español: 1-888-628-9454

Crisis Text Line 
Text HOME to 741-741

Suicide Prevention Resource Center 

National Institute of Mental Health

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration