A Clinical Model for Suicide Risk Assessment (IN: Treatment of Suicidal People, ed. by A. A. Leenaars et al)

A 2-tiered model of suicide risk assessment that comprises both background & subjective risk factors is proposed. Background factors are the sociodemographic & related indices that have been found to be correlated with increased risk. The assessment of subjectivity is a focus on the individual case & incorporates Shneidman’s concepts of perturbation & lethality. Background factors for suicide risk are outlined first, after which relevant subjective/psychological states will be highlighted.