Ensure Patient Safety First: Assess, Develop and Use Suicide Protocol to Minimize Suicide Risk/Involve Mental Health Specialists
The estimated lifetime prevalence of suicide in those ever hospitalized for suicidality is 8.6%. The lifetime risk is 4% for affective disorder patients hospitalized without specification of suicidality (Bostwick, 2000).
This section provides guidance and references on assessing suicidal tendencies, developing a clinic suicide protocol, risk factors for suicide and interventions to reduce suicide ideation.
Assess Suicidal Tendencies
Assessing suicidal tendencies is a critical but often difficult process with a depressed patient. Consider asking and documenting the following progression of questions.
Many patients will not answer #4 directly or will add, “But I’d never do it.” Give them positive feedback (e.g., “I’m glad to hear that”) but do not drop the subject until she/he has told you the specific methods considered (e.g., gun, medication overdose, motor vehicle accident).