Citation

O'connor N, Warby M, Raphael B, Vassallo T. Australas. Psychiatry 2004; 12(4): 352-360.

Affiliation

Area Mental Health, Macquarie Hospital, North Ryde, NSW, Australia. noconnor@doh.health.nsw.gov.au

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1111/j.1440-1665.2004.02126.x

PMID

15715807

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The authors, in collaboration with NSW Health, have recently developed a comprehensive suicide risk assessment framework. The present paper describes key concepts in the assessment of suicide risk by mental health professionals. METHODS: A framework for conducting a comprehensive suicide risk assessment was derived from the literature, incident analysis and clinical experience. The framework underwent a consultation process involving clinicians in NSW area mental health services. The aim was to provide clinicians with a standardized conceptual map for the assessment of suicide risk. A MEDLINE search was conducted for publications dealing with 'suicide' and 'suicide risk assessment' from 1980 to 2002. The recommendations from sentinel event reviews conducted in a NSW area mental health service in the period 1999-2002 were reviewed. The lessons from a visit to a coroner's relatives support group for people who had been bereaved by suicide also informed the development of the guidelines. RESULTS: A framework is proposed for the assessment of suicide risk. The framework promotes a reflective style of practice, encouraging clinicians to evaluate their assessment and its limitations. Risk assessment is always undertaken as part of a full clinical assessment and an evaluation of the person's current predicament and psychosocio-cultural context. The concepts of changeability, assessment confidence, common sense and the importance of corroboration are incorporated in the framework. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health clinicians can be guided by a framework in suicide risk assessment and documentation. The assessment of suicide risk can generate a suicide risk rating for which minimum standards of care can be mandated.