Annie Yu
SUICIDE
ASSESSMENT
When conducting a suicide risk assessment,
school personnel ask direct with questions
and make appropriate phone calls to
parents and the hospital.
School personnel cannot maintain
confidentiality in these situations because
of the imminent harm to the student.
Assessment Guide:
Desire and Intent
Have you had thoughts like this before?
How often do you think about suicide?
Plan: This is moving closer to action
Have you thought about how you would do it?
What does your plan involve?
Access and Means
What do you plan on using?
How easy or difficult is it for you to obtain that?
Where can you access that?
Risk Factors:
Prior Attempts
Prior Non-Suicidal Self-Injury
Mental Health problems (Depression)
Substance Use
Intervention/Follow-Up:
Contact Parents
Consider parent's availability,
cooperativeness, if they have information
to assist risk and mental health insurance
Safety plan
Identify warning signs and different tiers
of support (e.g., social, resources,
community)
Develop coping strategies
NON-SUICIDAL
SELF-INJURY
Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) is
understood as a symptom rather than a
problem. Individuals who self-injure are
engaging in unhealthy coping
mechanisms because they are struggling
with something else that is going on in
their life.
NSSI doesn't necessarily lead to suicide
but it increases their risk for suicide due to
accidents.
Common behaviors: picking, poking,
scratching, hair pulling had banging
Signs of Self-Injury
Self-injurious behaviors are associated with
shame, which makes it difficult to detect.
Frequent unexplained bruises, scars, cuts, or
burns
Inappropriate use of clothing to conceal wounds
Secretive behavior
General signs of depression, social-emotional
isolation and disconnectedness
How do you assess and intervene NSSI?
Reassure that there is nothing to be ashamed of
Use direct observation to screen for injuries
Ask direct questions
Find the function of the behavior
Regulate negative affect or no affect
Self-punishment
NOT attention-seeking
Develop replacement behaviors
Communication with parents is important
Consider family dynamic
NSSI does not automatically lead to mandated
reporting