Rapid screening for suicide risk: An algorithmic approach

Introduction In the United States, primary medical care settings are the first accessed resource for both medical and behavioral health care. Thus, there is a clear need for accurate and efficient behavioral health screening in this setting, including routine surveillance screening for suicide risk. The Multidimensional Behavioral Health Screen (MBHS), a broadband but very brief […]

Suicide risk screening and assessment before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in new inmates

Background: Suicide is the main cause of death in Italian prisons. The largest number of inmates who killed themselves was recorded during three years of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to explore psychosocial risk factors for suicide among inmates incarcerated before and after the onset of COVID-19. Methods: At prison reception, inmates underwent clinical […]

Suicide screening and risk assessment in the emergency department: Case review of a suicide attempt survivor

One in 10 of those who die by suicide are seen in an emergency department within the 2 months before their death. Despite national guidelines and resources (including from the Joint Commission and Emergency Nurses Association) for suicide screening, risk assessment, and follow-up care, suicidal ideation and behavior continue to go undetected in emergency departments, […]

Economic impacts of universal suicide risk assessment for adolescents

Adolescent suicide is a growing public health concern, prompting healthcare providers to adopt universal suicide risk screening in emergency care settings. This article explores the economic implications of implementing suicide risk screening programs for adolescents in emergency care. Universal screening,  involving systematic assessment of every adolescent patient for suicide risk, has the potential to provide […]

A review of suicide risk assessment tools and their measured psychometric properties in Korea

While there has been a slew of review studies on suicide measurement tools until now, there were not any reviews focusing on suicide assessment tools available in Korea. This review aimed to examine the psychometric properties of tools developed in Korea or the translated versions from the original tools in their foreign language and to […]

Validation of a culturally sensitive, Swahili translated instrument to assess suicide risk among adults living with HIV in Tanzania

In Tanzania, there are high rates of suicidal thoughts and behavior among people living with HIV (PLWH), yet few instruments exist for effective screening and referral. To address this gap, we developed and validated Swahili translations of the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) Screen Version and two accompanying scales assessing self-efficacy to avoid suicidal […]

Universal suicide screening in emergency departments across a large healthcare system

Background: Suicidal ideation is a common complaint in Emergency Departments (EDs) across the United States (US) and is an important preventable cause of death. Consequently, current Joint Commission guidelines require screening high-risk patients and those with behavioral health needs for suicide. Accordingly, we implemented universal suicide screening for all patients presenting to EDs in our healthcare […]

Does suicide risk screening improve the identification of primary care patients who will attempt suicide versus depressing screening alone?

Objective The effectiveness of suicide risk screening relative to depression screening alone among primary care patients has not been tested rigorously. This study compared the performance of multiple depression screening methods (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ]-2, PHQ-8, and PHQ-9) and multiple suicide risk screening methods (PHQ-9 item 9 and suicide-focused screening of “thoughts of killing yourself” during the […]

Psychiatric health care need in Hungary identified by the short screening algorithm of depression and suicide risk used in general medical practices

Suicides are often related to depression. General medical practices (GMPs) should play a role in screening depression. We aimed to test the screening algorithm of Rihmer and Torzsa for depression and suicide and determine the prevalence and number of patients in the nationwide representative Hungarostudy 2002 population, and to estimate the corresponding extra health care […]

Improving youth suicide risk screening and assessment in a pediatric hospital setting by using the Joint Commission Guidelines

Objectives: Hospitals accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC) are now required to use a validated screening tool and a standardized method for assessment of suicide risk in all behavioral health patients. Our aims for this study were (1) to implement a TJC-compliant process of suicide risk screening and assessment in the pediatric emergency department (ED) and […]

Implementing suicide risk screening in a virtual addiction clinic

The purpose of this study was to describe the feasibility of implementing suicide risk screening in a virtual addiction clinic. Suicide risk screening was implemented in a virtual addiction clinic serving individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) using a quality improvement framework. One-hundred percent (252/252) of eligible patients enrolled in the clinic were screened for […]

Assessing internalizing disorders and sleep in school-age children: A new parent report Behavioral Health Screen

Depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance are common among school-age children and can impair functioning. Schools are in a unique position to assess and refer these children for intervention services, but standardized screening is underutilized. One challenge with screening is the lack of psychometrically strong mental health screening tools that can be efficiently and effectively administered […]

Suicide risk screening in primary care

Objective: The purpose of this research was to determine the general risk of suicide in the scope of primary health care services and to evaluate its relationship with hopelessness, depression, and psychological resilience. Methods: Seven hundred twenty-five individuals presenting to primary health care services were included in this descriptive, cross-sectional study. The research data were collected using […]

Police referral to victim support: The predictive diagnostic value of the RISK (10) screening instrument

One of the basic rights of crime victims granted under victim-orientated legislation introduced during the last 20 years in more than 100 countries worldwide is the right to be referred to victim support by the police. The under-utilization of psychological services by crime victims who are objectively in need of external support is substantial. Current […]

To what extent are trends in teen mental health driven by changes in reporting? The example of suicide-related hospital visits

Rising reports of suicidal behaviors in children and adolescents have led to the recognition of a youth mental health crisis. However, reported rates can be influenced by access to screening and changes in reporting conventions, as well as by changes in social stigma. Using data on all hospital visits in New Jersey from 2008-2019, we […]

Identifying youth at risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors using the “p” factor in primary care: An exploratory study

Suicide is a major, preventable public health problem. The general factor of psychopathology (“p” factor) might help improve detection and prediction of individuals at risk for suicide. This cross-sectional proof-of-concept study tests whether the p-factor score is associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB) better than a depression scale alone. Youth (N = 841; mean […]

Screening for depression, anxiety, and suicide risk in adults: A systematic evidence review for the U.S Preventative Services Task Force

Objective: To review the benefits and harms of screening and treatment for depression, anxiety, and suicide risk, and the accuracy of instruments to detect these conditions among primary care patients. Data Sources: MEDLINE, PsychINFO, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews through September 9, 2022, bridging from prior […]

Suicide screening and prevention

LEARNING OUTCOME AND OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this continuing education course, you will demonstrate an understanding of suicide screening and prevention. Specific learning objectives to address potential knowledge gaps include: • Summarize risk and protective factors for suicide. • Describe the process of screening for suicide risk. • Discuss suicide prevention strategies.

Screening for depression and suicide risk in adults: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation statement

Description: Update of the 2009 US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation on screening for depression in adults. Methods: The USPSTF reviewed the evidence on the benefits and harms of screening for depression in adult populations, including older adults and pregnant and postpartum women; the accuracy of depression screening instruments; and the benefits and harms of depression […]

Depression and suicide risk screening: Updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force

Objective  To review the benefits and harms of screening and treatment for depression and suicide risk and the accuracy of instruments to detect these conditions among primary care patients. Data Sources  MEDLINE, PsychINFO, Cochrane library through September 7, 2022; references of existing reviews; ongoing surveillance for relevant literature through November 25, 2022. Study Selection  English-language studies of screening […]

Preteen suicide risk clinical pathways for pediatricians: Special recommendations

We are in a youth mental health crisis that includes unprecedented and staggeringly high rates of suicidal ideation and behaviors in preteens. Because the majority of children and preteens attend well-child  primary care visits, equipping pediatricians with brief and effective suicide screening and assessment skills is a priority for youth suicide prevention and management. Current […]

Closing the gap between screening and depression prevention: A qualitative stdy on barriers and facilitators from the perspective of public health professionals in a school-based prevention approach

Background: The prevalence of depression has increased among adolescents in western countries. Prevention is needed to reduce the number of adolescents who experience depression and to avoid negative consequences, including suicide. Several preventive interventions are found to be promising, especially multi-modal approaches, for example combining screening and preventive intervention. However, an important bottleneck arises during the […]

Implementation of Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) as a universal suicide risk screening tool in a high volume emergency department

Objective: To examine clinical and demographic parameters with regards to efficacy, resource utilization, and clinician burden associated with implementation of universal suicide screening by Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) in a single high-volume emergency department. Methods: This retrospective cohort study, performed via chart review, included 10,197 adult patients seen in the emergency department over two specific […]