Suicide Risk Assessment

By VeriScorePrep Team · 5 min

Suicide risk assessment is a core nursing skill in every setting, not only psychiatry. Asking does not increase risk — it opens a door.

Ask directly

"Are you thinking about suicide?" If yes, follow up: "Do you have a plan? What is it?" "Do you have access to means?" Specificity of plan, access to means, and a timeline raise immediate risk. Hopeless statements — "I just want to sleep and not wake up" — also warrant direct follow-up.

Risk and protective factors

Risk: recent loss or major life change, prior attempts, access to lethal means, substance use, isolation, chronic pain, depression, family history of suicide. Protective: strong social support, future-oriented goals, religious or moral objection to suicide, children or dependents, engaged treatment.

Interventions

• Never leave a high-risk patient alone.
• Remove access to means when possible (lethal means counseling is a key intervention).
• Establish a safety plan, document it, and ensure it is shared with the care team.
• Escalate per protocol — initiate hospital-level care if imminent risk.
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for community resources and emergencies.

Documentation

Document ideation, plan, means, intent, protective factors, the assessment, interventions taken, and who was notified.