Ligature and/or Suicide Risk Reduction - Assessing Risk Factors
NPSG.15.01.01 EP 3 requires that the suicide risk assessment include 'risk factors'. What are examples of these risk factors ?
Any examples are for illustrative purposes only.
Risk factors may be described as a combination of individual, biological, psychological, familial, community, cultural, and/or societal characteristics or factors that may contribute to the risk of suicide.
Examples of risk factors include, but are not limited to:
The Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Additional Resource
Suicide Prevention Portal
Risk factors may be described as a combination of individual, biological, psychological, familial, community, cultural, and/or societal characteristics or factors that may contribute to the risk of suicide.
Examples of risk factors include, but are not limited to:
- Family history of suicide
- Family history of child maltreatment
- Previous suicide attempt(s)
- History of mental disorders, particularly clinical depression
- History of alcohol and substance abuse
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Impulsive or aggressive tendencies
- Cultural and religious beliefs (e.g., belief that suicide is noble resolution of a personal dilemma)
- Local epidemics of suicide
- Isolation, a feeling of being cut off from other people
- Barriers to accessing mental health treatment
- Loss (relational, social, work, or financial)
- Physical illness
- Easy access to lethal methods
- Unwillingness to seek help because of the stigma attached to mental health and substance abuse disorders or to suicidal thoughts
References
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) The Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Additional Resource
Manual:
Hospital and Hospital Clinics
Chapter:
National Patient Safety Goals NPSG
Last reviewed by Standards Interpretation: February 01, 2022
Represents the most recent date that the FAQ was reviewed (e.g. annual review).
First published date: May 07, 2019
This Standards FAQ was first published on this date.
This page was last updated on February 01, 2022
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