More than 90% of people who attempt suicide and survive never go on to die by suicide.
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) supports the integration of screening and assessment protocol into all programming including primary and specialist care.
There are a variety of validated tools that can be used and incorporated into electronic health records for ease of use. This information is provided below. Screening and assessment tools are not predictive and should not be used in isolation. Instead, screening and assessment should be utilized to determine the best course of treatment for patients/clients and never used as a barrier to treatment. A comprehensive program for screening and assessment also includes referral networks, follow-up care, and regular reassessment.
Tools
- Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) Toolkit is a brief validated tool for use among both youth and adults. It is a free resource for use in a variety of settings including emergency departments, inpatient medical/surgical units, and outpatient clinics/primary care. The ASQ is a set of four screening questions to assess for suicide risk.
- The Columbia Lighthouse Project Columbia Protocol
- SAFE-T Suicide Assessment Five Step Evaluation and Triage
- Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9)
- ICARE2 – Managing Suicidal Patients in the ED
- Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Primary Care Practices
Articles, Briefs, and Reports
- National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Data Briefs
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Health Statistics Reports
- The PHQ-9: Validity of a Brief Depression Severity Measure
- Suicide Prevention: An Emerging Priority For Health Care
- Best Practices in Care Transitions for Individuals with Suicide Risk: Inpatient Care to Outpatient Care
- Caring for Adult Patients with Suicide Risk
- Compliance Standards Pave the Way for Reducing Suicide in Health Care Systems
- What Clients and Families Need to Know About Suicide
- Suicide Prevention in an Emergency Department Population
Recognizing and Responding to Suicide Risk: Essential Skills for Clinicians (RRSR)
An interactive workshop based on 24 core competencies derived from empirical evidence that comprehensively define the knowledge, skills and approaches required for effective clinical risk assessment and treatment of individuals at risk for suicide. The course is designed to meet the needs of Professional Counselors, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Psychiatric Nurses, Substance Abuse Counselors, Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapists, Pastoral Counselors, and Other Counselors.
Suicide Assessment Five-Step Evaluation and Triage (SAFE-T) (Pocket Card)
Provides protocols for conducting a comprehensive suicide assessment, estimating suicide risk, identifying protective factors, and developing treatment plans and interventions responsive to the risk level of patients.
A resource library of programs and interventions that apply suicide prevention frameworks for specific populations and uses.
Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Primary Care Providers
A web-based toolkit that contains the information and tools needed to implement state-of-the-art suicide prevention practices in primary care settings. The Toolkit includes sections on educating clinicians and office staff and developing mental health partnerships, as well as patient management tools and patient education tools.
Emergency Department Health Care Providers
“Is Your Patient Suicidal?”
Information on recognizing and responding to acute suicide risk. The guide provides additional clinical guidance for ED personnel.
After an Attempt
Brochures regarding treatment and follow-up for those seen in an emergency department after a suicide attempt.
- Medical Providers in the Emergency Department Taking Care of Suicide Attempt Survivors
- Taking Care of Your Family Member After Treatment in the Emergency Department English | Spanish
- Taking Care of Yourself After Your Treatment in the Emergency Department English | Spanish