Assessment of suicide risk
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| Suicide |
|---|
| Types of suicide |
| Teenage suicide |
| Euthanasia/Assisted suicide |
| Murder-suicide |
| Suicide attacks |
| Ritual suicide |
| Cult suicide |
| Mass suicide |
| Suicide pact |
| Internet suicide |
| Copycat suicide |
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| Suicide by cop |
| History and methodology |
| History of suicide |
| List of suicides |
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| Suicide note |
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| Views on suicide |
| Cultural |
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| Medical |
| Philosophical |
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| Right to die |
| Resources for dealing with suicidal thoughts |
| Crisis hotline |
| Assessment of suicide risk |
| Suicide prevention |
| Crisis hotlines by country |
| Medical views of suicide |
The routine assessment of suicide risk is an important clinical skill.
People most at risk will have strong suicidal ideation with frequent, intense and prolonged thoughts of suicide, as well as a history of multiple well-planned attempts where rescue was unlikely. They express an unambiguous wish to die, and have a clear plan and the means to carry it out. When the picture is less clear-cut it is a matter of clinical judgement as to the severity of the risk.
Factors associated with risk:
- Having a clear plan
- Having the means to carry out the plan
- Age (45 and older)
- Alcohol dependence
- Irritation, rage, violence
- Prior suicidal behaviour
- Unwillingness to accept help
- Longer than usual duration of current depression
- Prior in-patient psychiatric treatment
- Recent loss or separation
- Loss of physical health
- Unemployment or retirement
- Being single, recently widowed or divorced.
[edit] What to do if you think suicide is likely
Arrange for a psychiatric assessment with a view to a protective hospital admission.
