Suicide Assessment and Prevention in Early Psychosis-Handout: SAFE-T

Handout: SAFE-T

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This document provides information on the identification of risk and protective factors for suicide, conducting suicide inquiries, determining risk levels, and documenting assessments and interventions. Key risk factors for suicidal behavior include a history of prior suicide attempts, psychiatric disorders (such as mood disorders and substance abuse), recent onset of illness, and precipitating events such as loss or humiliation. Protective factors include the ability to cope with stress, positive therapeutic relationships, and social supports. The suicide inquiry involves assessing frequency, intensity, and duration of suicidal ideation, as well as the presence of a plan, preparatory acts, and non-suicidal self-injurious actions. Intent is also explored, including the expectation to carry out the plan and beliefs about lethality versus self-injury. Risk level and intervention are determined based on clinical judgment, with high-risk individuals requiring immediate admission and low-risk individuals needing outpatient referral and symptom reduction. The document emphasizes the importance of reassessing risk as circumstances change and documenting the rationale for the treatment plan, which may include medication, psychotherapy, and contact with significant others. The chart provided represents a range of risk levels and interventions rather than actual determinations.

Keywords

suicide risk factors

protective factors suicide prevention

suicide inquiry assessment

risk level determination suicide

interventions for suicide prevention

suicidal ideation assessment

suicide plan evaluation

risk reassessment suicide prevention

treatment plan rationale documentation

medication psychotherapy suicide prevention