Clinical Assessment of Suicidal Behavior in Children (IN: Suicide in the Young, ed. by H S Sudak et al)

This chapter discusses the clinical interview evaluation of suicidal potential in children. Some factors discovered to be specifically associated with childhood suicidal behavior are outlined. The clinical evaluation should focus on determining the presence & degree of depression in the child; the child’s concepts, experiences & thoughts of death and family interactions & suicidal tendencies in important family members.