Suicide Risk Assessment

Completed suicide is death under circumstances and evidence of intention to take one’s own life (Suicide Prevention Resource Center; SPRC, 2018). Suicide attempt is trying to take one’s own life with a nonfatal outcome and which may or may not result in injuries. Suicidal ideation includes thinking about, considering, or planning for suicide (e.g., means to kill oneself, when to kill oneself, where to kill oneself; CDC, 2012). Suicide ideation ranges from passive thoughts (e.g., “I wish I wasn’t around”) to clear, active thoughts of suicide (e.g., “I will jump in front of a car tomorrow on the freeway”). Suicidal behavior is suicide, suicide attempts, suicidal ideation, and planning/preparation done with the intent of attempting or dying by suicide (SPRC, 2018). Suicide risk/lethality is defined on multiple levels, depending on the severity or level of risk to which a person experiences suicidal ideation or behavior (e.g., no risk, low risk, moderate risk, high risk; Paladino & Barrio Minton, 2008).