Risk assessment

Question 1

What are the subsections of the interview section of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale?

Answer 1

1. Suicidal Ideation
2. Intensity of Ideation
3. Suicidal Behaviour

Question 2

What does the Suicidal Ideation section of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale interview section ask about?

Answer 2

Overall it assesses suicidal ideation and it’s severity based on whether the person has thought about methods, has intent, and has a specific plan

1. Have they wished to be dead or not there anyone?
2. Non specific Active Suicidal thoughts (Have you actually had any thoughts of killing yourself?
3. Active suicidal ideation with any methods (no plan) without intent to ask (Have you been thinking about how you might do this?)
4. Active suicidal ideation with some intent to act, without specific plan (Have you had these thoughts and had some intention of acting on them)
5. Active suicidal ideation with specific plan and intent

Question 3

What does the Intensity of Ideation section of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale interview section ask about?

Answer 3

1. Severity of lifetime and most recent ideation (rated by which category of suicidal ideation it falls into in section 1)
2. Frequency of thoughts (changes in frequency aren’t asked about but I feel like I should ask)
3. Duration of thoughts
4. Controllability of thoughts
5. Deterrents to acting on thoughts
6. Reasons for ideation

Question 4

What does the Suicidal Behaviour section of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale interview section ask about?

Answer 4

Has there been an actual attempt
Defined as
“A potentially self-injurious act committed with at least some wish to die, as a result of act. Behavior was in part thought of as method to kill oneself. Intent does not have to be 100%. If there is any intent/desire to die associated with the act, then it can be considered an actual suicide
attempt. There does not have to be any injury or harm, just the potential for injury or harm. If person pulls trigger while gun is in mouth but gun is broken so no injury results, this is considered an attempt.”

1. Have there been any past attempts?
2. Have they done anything to harm themselves?
3. Have they done anything dangerous where you could have died?

Has subject engaged in Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behavior?

Interrupted Attempt?
Aborted or Self-Interrupted Attempt?
Preparatory Acts or Behavior?

Details about Actual Lethality/Medical Damage or Potential lethality