Suicide Risk Assessment and Care Planning Clinical Pathway — Outpatient Specialty Care
Suicide Risk Assessment and Care Planning Clinical Pathway — Outpatient Specialty Care
Red Flags
Red flags are factors that should prompt the clinician to consider enhancing the intervention plan to include a greater level of support and responsiveness. Red flags may indicate more acute or imminent risk, and should be considered along with a patient’s unique presentation of risk and protective factors.
- Unwillingness or inability to:
- Maintain safety independent of external support
- Engage in safety planning and/or identify and use appropriate coping strategies
- Sudden onset of:
- Current suicidal ideation
- Escalation in severity or intensity of self-injurious behaviors
- Increase in reckless or risk-taking behavior (e.g., increased alcohol and/or drug use)
- Significant decline in patient mental state
- Dramatic changes in mood; or significant worsening in patient presentation
- Homicidal ideation and/or threat to others