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PDS-BEMR SUICIDE RISK ASSESSMENT GUIDE — Version 3
Key Principles to Consider When Conducting Suicide Risk Assessment (adapted from Granello, 2011):
- Risk or Protective Factor Absent
0 Risk or Protective *tor Not Assessed
Mental Status Exam: In PDS you will be required to select a value for each of the areas below. You can make additional comments.
O Level of Consciousness
O Mood
O Psychomotor Activity
O General Appearance
O Thought Process
O Thought Content
In PDS you will be required to select a value for each of the
+ - 0 STATIC FACTORS
OOO Chronic Medical Condition
OOO Family Hx of Suicide
000
High Profile Crime
OOO Hx of Childhood Abuse
000
Hx of Psychiatric Hospitalization
000
History of Mental Illness
000
Past Suicide Attempt
OOO History of Violent Behavior
000
Lack of Family Connections
OOO Sex Offender Status
+ - 0 DYNAMIC FACTORS
risk/dynamic/protective
000
Agitation
000
Current Intoxication
000
Current Physical Pain
000
Current Suicidal Ideation
000
Current Suicidal Intent
000
Current Suicidal Plan
000
Fear for Own Safety
000
Feeling Hopeless/Helpless
000
Feels Like a Burden
000
Non-Adherence to Medical Tx
000
Problem Solving Deficits
000
Recent Significant Loss
000
Sleeps Problems
000
Social Isolation
OOO Uncontrolled Mental Health Issues
O Behavior
factors below:
+ - 0 PROTECTIVE FACTORS
OOO Able to Identify Reasons to Live
000
Adequate Problem Solving Skills
000
Denial of Suicidal Ideation
OOO Future Orientation
O00 Religious Beliefs Against Suicide
OOO Social Support in the Institution
O00 Supportive Family Relationships
OOO View of Death as Negative
000
Willingness to Engage in Tx
Additional validated risk factors that may be relevant: Sentence >20 years; Self-harm in past month; Dual Diagnosis;
Male Gender; History of Self-Injurious Behavior; Chronic/Uncontrolled Pain; No Spouse (Single, Divorced, Widowed)
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Suicide Risk Assessment in PDS-BEMR
Classification of Suicide Related Behaviors
Suicide Related Communication:
Any verbal or non-verbal interpersonal communication of thoughts,
wishes, or intent for suicide that does NOT produce self-injury.
Actions do not produce self-injury, although they have that intent.
Examples may include
- placing a noose around one's neck in the presence of staff:
- writing a letter that states. "the world would be better without me':
- stating, "I'm going to kill myself."
Suicide Related Behavior:
A self-inflicted, potentially injurious behavior for which there is
evidence that the person either (a) wished to use the appearance
of a suicide attempt to attain some other end. or (b) intended. to
some degree. to kill him/herself.
Yes
No
Undetermined
Suicide Attempt:
A non-fatal self-directed potentially injurious behavior with any intent to die as a result of the behavior. A suicide
attempt may or may not result in injury.
Non-Suicidal Self Directed Violence:
If there is no evidence, whether implicit or explicit, of suicidal intent it is not an attempt, it is
This is
your judgment and includes inmate self-report. Look at the big picture and account for other data that corroborates or
contradicts self-report. This is a distinction that the executive staff and/or the IDO need to have made for them.
Yes or No
Medical interventions are not an injury, but are undertaken to avoid or address an injury.
Lethality Assessment
Asphyxiation - Hanging
Asphyxiation - Other
Cutting
Fire
Ingestion - Prescription Medication
Ingestion - Non-Prescription Medication
Ingestion - Other
Jumping
Other
Most of these are self-explanatory. Ingestion — Other is appropriate for swallowing razors and other foreign objects.
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Low Lethality:
- Death is impossible or highly improbable.
- The individual may receive medical attention. Out it is not required for survival.
- Frequently. the act is done in a public setting. or is reported by the individual to ensure detection and assistance.
- Examples placed noose loosely around neck and did not attach the other end to another object: swallowed 10 Tylenol pills in front
of staff; scratches or superficial cuts on neck or wrist.
Moderate Lethality:
- Death is a possible. but not highly probably, outcome of the act, in the opinion of the average person.
- Opportunity for detection and intervention was not certain.
- Medical or crisis intervention may be required to reduce the risk of death (e.g.. pumping stomach. suturing cuts).
- Examples: swallowed 30 Tylenol cut neck and lost significant blood: placed ligature around neck and applied pressure.
High Lethality:
• Death is the probable outcome, although immediate and vigorous medical attention may reduce the risk.
- The individual took measures to avoid detection and intervention. or the method was so lethal that intervention was not likely to
prevent death.
- Examples: placed ligature around neck and lost consciousness: attempted to hang self. but stopped when cellmate awoke; took a
potentially lethal overdose and did not alert staff.
Examples of Protective Factors (Sanchez, 2001; United States Public Health Service, 1999)
• Strong connections to family and community support
• Sense of belonging, sense of identity, and good self-esteem
• Identification of future goals
• Support through ongoing medical and mental health care relationships
• Easy access to a variety of clinical interventions and support for help seeking
cannot be simply compared on a one to one b
jive cation
• Skills in problem solving, coping and conflict resolution
• Cultural, spiritual, and religious connections and beliefs
• Constructive use of leisure time (enjoyable activities)
• Effective clinical care for mental, physical and substance use disorders
• Restricted access to highly lethal means of suicide
fact
factors.
Low Acute Risk
Suicidal ideation is absent or is of limited frequency, intensity. duration and specificity. There are NO identifiable plans and NO associated intent.
There is good self-control based on both self-report and objective assessment. There may be mild symptomatology and morbid rumination may
be present. Few risk factors are present and protective factors are identified, including available and accessible social support.
Moderate Acute Risk
Suicidal ideation is frequent with limited intensity and duration. Suicidal plans have some specificity, but NO associated intent. There is good self-
control. limited to moderate symptomatology. some risk factors are present. and protective factors are identified, including available and accessible
social support. Denial of ideation and intent may be present. if objective markers. such as suicide threats to others and agitation, contradict the
self-report
High Acute Risk
Frequent. intense, and enduring suicidal ideation. specific plans. Many risk factors are identified. Objective markers of risk are present (e.g..
lethal method, rehearsal behaviors. saying "goodbye•): self-report of subjective intent may or may not be present. There is evidence of impaired
self-control. severe symptomatology. multiple risk factors are present. and few. if any protective factors.
Present - Chronic Rick is present when there is a history of two or more suicide attempts
Absent - Chronic Risk is absent when there is a history of one or zero suicide attempts.
Note: Self-ham behaviors are not counted as suicide attempts.
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Recommendations:
If suicide risk is present, consider recommending the following
interventions:
- Suicide Watch
• Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide
- Positive Reinforcement
- Safety Plan
- Psychiatric Referral
- Reasons for Living Card
- CBT/DBT Skills Training Groups
- Coping Cards
- Recommendation for Double Cell
- Psychology Alert Code
- Change Care Level (UPDATE Diagnostic and Care Level Formulation)
- Property Restriction (If Returning to Restricted Housing)
- Suicide Risk Management Plan
- Consult with Unit Team
- Assign a Mental Health Cadre
- A suicide watch is not warranted at this time
- A suicide watch is to be initiated immediately
- A suicide watch was initiated by non-clinical staff and continues to be warranted
- A suicide watch was initiated by non-clinical staff and is no longer warranted
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Date_4.
Notes
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The Suicidal Mode
Predispositions to Suicide
Genetic & biological factors
Family history of suicide
Abuse or other trauma history
Impulsivity
Aggression
Previous suicidal behaviors
p
sychiatric history
Behaviors
I
'
Substance abuse
Self-harm
i Preparing for death
Practicing / rehearsing suicide
Suicide threats
Poor expression of emotion
--0/
Social withdrawal
/Trigger (Perceived Loss)
Relationship problems
Financial stress
Onset of illness
Legal problems
Traumatic events
Recent loss of a significant other
\Zher major life changes
,
Hopelessness
..
, Perceived burdensomeness
Isolation / loneliness
Reasons for living
Reasons for dying
Impaired problem solving
Thoughts
Physiology
Agitation
Sleep disturbance
Concentration problems
Physical pain
Emotions
Shame or guilt
t_ ._
Anger
Anxiety or panic
Depression
.
.
1
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The Suicidal Mode
Predispositions to Suicide
K
J
Behaviors
a' I
im>
Trigger (Perceived Loss)
m
K
J
C
-..
Thoughts
K
J
Suicidality
Physiology
i
10
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Watch End Date:
Watch End Time:
AM/PM
Watch Conducted By:
Both Inmates & Staff
Inmate
Staff
Transferred to a Medical Center: No/Yes
Mental Status Exam: in PDS you will be required to select a value for each of the areas below. Elaborate below.
Level of Consciousness
O Psychomotor Activity
O Mood
O Thought Process
General Appearance
O Behavior
Thought Content
Na rrativel for Risk Factors Assessed:
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- Risk or Protective Factor Absent
0 Risk or Protective ratniVinBia
Mental Status Exam: in PDS you will be required to select a value for each of the areas below. You can make additional comments.
0 Level of Consciousness
0 Mood
0 Psychomotor Activity
C General Appearance
0 Thought Process
0 Thought Content
In PDS you will be required to select a value for each of the
+ - 0 STATIC FACTORS
000
Chronic Medical Condition
000
Family Hx of Suicide
000
High Profile Crime
000
Hx of Childhood Abuse
000
Mx of Psychiatric Hospitalization
000
History of Mental Illness
000
Past Suicide Attempt
000
History of Violent Behavior
000
Lack of Family Connections
000
Sex Offender Status
+ - 0 DYNAMIC FACTORS
risk/dynamic/protective
000
Agitation
000
Current Intoxication
000
Current Physical Pain
000
Current Suicidal Ideation
000
Current Suicidal Intent
000
Current Suicidal Plan
000
Fear for Own Safety
000
Feeling Hopeless/Helpless
000
Feels Like a Burden
000
Non-Adherence to Medical Tx
000
Problem Solving Deficits
000
Recent Significant Loss
000
Sleeps Problems
000
Social Isolation
000
Uncontrolled Mental Health Issues
0 Behavior
actors below:
+ - 0 PROTECTIVE FACTORS
000Able to Identify Reasons to Live
000Adequate Problem Solving Skills
000
Denial of Suicidal Ideation
000
Future Orientation
000
Religious Beliefs Against Suicide
000
Social Support in the Institution
000
Supportive Family Relationships
000
View of Death as Negative
000
Willingness to Engage in Tx
Additional validated risk factors that may be relevant: Sentence >20 years; Self-harm in past month; Dual Diagnosis;
Male Gender; History of Self-Injurious Behavior; Chronic/Uncontrolled Pain; No Spouse (Single, Divorced, Widowed)
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Low Acute Risk
Suicidal ideation is absent or is of limited frequency, intensity, duration and specificity. There are NO identifiable plans and
NO associated intent. There is good self-control based on both self-report and objective assessment. There may be mild
symptomatology and morbid rumination may be present. Few risk factors are present and protective factors are identified,
including available and accessible social support.
Moderate Acute Risk
Suicidal ideation is frequent with limited intensity and duration. Suicidal plans have some specificity, but NO associated
intent. There is good self-control. limited to moderate symptomatology. some risk factors are present, and protective factors
are identified, including available and accessible social support. Denial of ideation and intent may be present. if objective
markers, such as suicide threats to others and agitation, contradict the self-report.
High Acute Risk
Frequent, intense, and enduring suicidal ideation, specific plant Many risk factors are identified. Objective markers of risk
are present (e.g., lethal method, rehearsal behaviors, saying 'goodbye"): self-report of subjective intent may or may not be
present. There is evidence of impaired self-control, severe symptomatology. multiple risk factors are present, and few, if
any protective factors.
Present
Chronic Risk is present when there is a history of two or more suicide
attempts
Absent
Chronic Risk is absent when there is a history of one or zero suicide attempts.
Reason for referral:
Change in risk factors:
Reason for removal from watch:
b
Diagnosis:
Recommendations:
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Date
Progress Notes
Thinks to Christopher Bush & Scott Forbes In the development of this guide
Version 3
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