Outline essential components of a suicide risk assessment in psychosocial practice. Which statement best captures essential elements?

• A. Assess ideation, intent, plan, means, lethality; assess protective factors and supports; prior attempts; coping strategies; safety planning; emergency contacts.
• B. Only assess mood and sleep patterns.
• C. Focus on physical health metrics.
• D. Evaluate past psychiatric diagnoses.

Answer: (A)

A suicide risk assessment in psychosocial practice centers on forming a clear, actionable picture of current danger and how to prevent harm. This means directly evaluating suicidal thoughts and their depth (ideation), whether there is intent to act, whether there is a plan and access to lethal means, and how lethal that plan is. It also includes factors that can raise or lower risk, such as protective factors and supports in the person’s life, any prior attempts, the person’s coping strategies, and a concrete safety plan with emergency or crisis contacts. This comprehensive approach goes beyond just mood, sleep, physical health metrics, or past diagnoses to provide the current risk assessment and a practical plan to keep the person safe.