This pocket guide summarizes VA/DoD clinical practice guidelines for structured assessment of adults suspected to be at risk of suicide and the immediate and long-term management and treatment that should follow if an individual is found to be at risk.
Resources
A multi-source collection of readings, tools, videos, and webinars to help you understand and implement Zero Suicide.
Posner, K., Brown, G. K., Stanley, B., Brent, D. A., Yershova, K. V., Oquendo, M., . . . Mann, J. J. (2011). The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS): Initial validity and internal consistency findings from three multi-site studies with adolescents and adults. American Journal of Psychiatry, 168(12): 1233–1234.
Douglas, K. S., & Skeem, J. L. (2005). Violence risk assessment: Getting specific about being dynamic. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 11(3), 347.
Bryan, C. J., & Rudd, M. D. (2006). Advances in the assessment of suicide risk. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62(2), 185–200.
Berman, A. L., & Silverman, M. M. (2014). Suicide risk assessment and risk formulation part II: Suicide risk formulation and the determination of levels of risk. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 44(4), 432–443.
Silverman, M. M., & Berman, A. L. (2014). Suicide risk assessment and risk formulation part I: A focus on suicide ideation in assessing suicide risk. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 44(4), 420–431.
This list of screening tools from the Center for Integrated Health Solutions includes many options for screening for suicide and depression risk.
This document serves as a resource guide, using the SAFE-T protocol as a centerpiece, to facilitate implementation of the Joint Commission patient safety goal on suicide.
This card assists clinicians in conducting a suicide assessment using a five-step evaluation and triage plan to identify risk factors and protective factors, conduct a suicide inquiry, determine risk level and potential interventions, and document a treatment plan.
This report reviews evidence about suicide risk factors and suicide risk assessment tools to inform practice guidelines for clinicians serving veterans and military populations. However, much of the information is also applicable to the general adult population.
Bryan, C.J., Stone, S.L., & Rudd, M.D. (2011). A practical, evidence-based approach for means-restriction counseling with suicidal patients. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 42(5), 339–346.
Stanley, B., & Brown, G. (2012). Safety Planning Intervention: A brief intervention to mitigate suicide risk. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 19(2), 256–264.
Knox, K., Stanley, B., Currier, G., Brenner L, Ghahramanlou-Holloway M., & Brown G. (2012). An emergency department-based brief intervention for veterans at risk for suicide (SAFE VET). American Journal of Public Health, 102(Suppl. 1), S33–37.
A fill-in-the-blank template for developing a safety plan with a patient who is at increased risk for a suicide attempt.
This quick guide for clinicians may be used to develop a safety plan—a prioritized written list of coping strategies and sources of support to be used by patients who have been deemed to be at high risk for suicide.
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