How is suicide risk screening best described?

• A. A procedure in which a standardized instrument is used to identify children who may be at risk of suicide.
• B. A casual interview to determine if a child is upset with life.
• C. A one-time mental health evaluation that confirms a risk without ongoing follow-up.
• D. A general health screening that screens for all behavioral disorders.

Answer: (A)

Suicide risk screening is a brief, structured process that uses a validated instrument to identify youth who may be at risk for self-harm. The key is standardization: a standardized tool provides consistent questions and scoring, which helps staff reliably detect risk across different settings and interviewers. This approach is about identifying potential risk, not making a full diagnosis, and it should prompt safety planning, further assessment, and referrals or follow-up as needed. It isn’t a casual conversation or a one-time determination, and it isn’t a general health screen for all behavioral disorders; its purpose is specifically to flag suicide risk so appropriate steps can be taken.