Suicide Warning Signs
Caring for a client who is suicidal is one of the most stressful situations to deal with as a therapist. Unfortunately, there's no magic test that can tell us exactly when someone is at risk of taking their life.
However, there are plenty of warnings signs that have been found to be positively correlated with suicidal behavior. The Suicide Warning Signs printout lists this warning signs to help you keep them fresh in your mind. This checklist can be helpful alongside an assessment to remind you of questions you don't want to leave out.
Remember, there are no sure signs of suicidality. Assessments should be completed by a professional who's using their best clinical judgement.
1. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association.
