Suicide risk as a spectrum
- 1. No Suicide Ideation Passive Suicide Ideation Active Suicide Ideation Specific Suicide Plan or Intent •Normal focus on end of life issues due to advanced age, medical illness, or dwindling social networks. •May have occasional thoughts about own mortality. •Is not preoccupied with death; does not feel that Very Low Risk Moderate Risk: Requires immediate referral HIGH RISK: CONTACT MH CLINICIAN DO NOT LEAVE HOME Mild Risk: Requires referral •Morbid preoccupation with death; thoughts that life is not worth living or that would be better off dead (eg, “I pray that God will take me soon”). •Has not considered a Method to harm self. Assessing Suicide Risk as a Spectrum* •Reports a specific detailed Plan and/or current intention to harm self (eg, “I’m planning to take all my pills tomorrow morning before my aid arrives”), or does not have good impulse control (eg, “I may not be able to stop myself *Always follow individual NH procedures for suicidal patients No Suicide Risk Imminent Suicide Risk © Copyright 2004 Weill Cornell Homecare Research Partnership Weill Medical College of Cornell University •Normal focus on end of life issues due to advanced age, medical illness, or dwindling social networks. •May have occasional thoughts about own mortality. •Is not preoccupied with death; does not feel that would be better off dead. •Morbid preoccupation with death; thoughts that life is not worth living or that would be better off dead (eg, “I pray that God will take me soon”). •Has not considered a Method to harm self. •Has considered a method to harm self (eg, “I’ve thought about taking all my pills, but I would never do it”). •Does not report a specific detailed Plan or current intention to harm self. •Demonstrates reasons for living and good impulse control. •Reports a specific detailed Plan and/or current intention to harm self (eg, “I’m planning to take all my pills tomorrow morning before the aide arrives”), or does not have good impulse control (eg, “I may not be able to stop myself from doing this”). Very Low Risk Mild Risk: Requires referral Moderate Risk: Requires immediate referral HIGH RISK: CONTACT MH CLINICIAN DO NOT LEAVE PT 1