Suicidal Ideation: Assessment, Tools, and Prevention Strategies

This assignment delves into the complex issue of suicidal ideation, examining its prevalence and impact on the US adult population. It addresses key aspects of assessing patients at risk, including the identification of subjective and objective data, such as rage, anger, hopelessness, and social isolation, as well as substance abuse and previous suicidal tendencies. The assignment highlights the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) toolkit developed by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and its application in identifying at-risk youths. Furthermore, it explores the role of organizations like Hopeline and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in providing resources, confidential services, and crisis intervention. The importance of regular follow-up care for patients with suicidal behaviors is also emphasized. The assignment utilizes references from the NIH to support the information provided.

Running head: SUICIDAL IDEATION
Suicidal Ideation
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1SUICIDAL IDEATION
The suicidal thoughts and behaviours are very common among the US adults and it is
observed that almost 7.5% of US adults with age group of 18-25 years have the thoughts of
suicide. In 2014, almost 9.4 million of adult people aged 18 years or more have reported
about having serious thoughts of killing themselves ( NIH, 2019).
Question 1
During the assessment of a patient with risk of suicidal ideation, along with several
subjective and objective data, the counsellor or the health care provider should also look into
a few other symptoms that may indicate that, the patient need more in depth assessment of his
or her health, In such cases, mostly, the health care provider should ask about rage , anger,
hopelessness of the patients, signage of social isolation from friends and families as all of
these are the symptoms of suicidal ideation and depression. Along with this, the health care
provider also look into the fact that if the patient is addicted to alcohol or smoking or not as
they are also associated with the suicide ideation as well. Previous history of suicidal
tendency can also be a risk factor of suicidal ideation in the patients. Hence, such symptoms
can be counted as indication of further in depth assessment of the patients ( Targum,
Friedman & Pacheco, 2014).
Question 2
The National institute of Mental Health in US, has created a tool named Ask Suicide-
Screening Questions ( ASQ) for the assessment of suicidal risk among the people of US.
This tool kit is used by the nurses and health care providers in the emergency department,
out-patient care, primary care of the hospital settings. The ASQ tool is composed of four yes/
no question and only 20 seconds is required for administering the ASQ tool. The tool kit is
used for mainly assessing the youths of age group of 10- 24 years. In this tool, if the patient
scores one or more ‘yes’ responses out of 4 questions, then it is considered that, the youth is

2SUICIDAL IDEATION
at the risk of suicide. Therefore, the patient who is positively screened in this test, will
receive a brief suicide safety assessment ( BBSA) to reduce the chances of suicidal ideation
( NIH, 2019).
Question 3
In US, Hopeline is one of the organizations which help in suicidal ideation prevention in US
and they provides helpful information and needed services regarding suicide through their
websites. They also give the 24 hours helpline facility in US. The National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline also give confidential services to the people who are in crisis and
distressed condition. These organizations generally provides services through their highly
trained counsellors and refer the patients to the nearest crisis centres for further assessment.
Along with this, it is highly recommended that, a regular follow up is needed for the patients
who are already assessed with suicidal behaviours ( NIH, 2019). Hence, it will be a great
practice if the health care provider regularly visit the patients’ place in order to assess the
progress of the patients.

3SUICIDAL IDEATION
References
NIH (2019). Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among U.S. Adults. NIH. Retrieved from-
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide/suicidal-thoughts-and-behaviors-
among-us-adults.shtml [ Accessed on 30 March, 2019]
NIH (2019). Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) Toolkit. NIH. Retrieved from-
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/research/research-conducted-at-nimh/asq-toolkit-materials/
index.shtml [ Accessed on 30 March, 2019]
NIH (2019). Suicide Prevention. NIH. Retrieved from-
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention/index.shtml [ Accessed on 30
March, 2019]
Targum, S. D., Friedman, F., & Pacheco, M. N. (2014). Assessment of Suicidal Behavior in
the Emergency Department. Innovations in clinical neuroscience, 11(9-10), 194.