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Discussion: Assessing Suicide Risk

As a social worker, you will likely at some point have a client with a positive suicide risk assessment. Many individuals with suicidal ideation also have a plan, and that plan may be imminent. Even when the risk is not urgent at a given moment, current research shows that most suicides occur within 3 months of the risk being assessed within a formal appointment. Ideation can quickly become a suicide.

For this Discussion, you view an initial suicide risk assessment. As you evaluate the social worker’s actions, imagine yourself in their place. What would you do, and why?

To prepare:

• Explore an evidence-based tool about suicide risk assessment and safety planning.
• Watch the “Suicide Assessment Interview” segment in the Sommers-Flanagan (2014) video to assess how it compares to your findings. (Clinical Interviewing: Intake, Assessment & Therapeutic Alliance | Kanopy Watch the “Suicide Assessment Interview” segment starting at 01:44:37. This is the interview with Tommi, which will be used for the Discussion.)
• Research scholarly resources related to suicide and Native American populations.

By Day 3

Post a response in which you address the following:

• Identify and discuss elements of Dr. Sommers-Flanagan’s suicide risk assessment.
• Describe the elements of safety planning that you would put in place as Tommi’s social worker in the first week and in the first months.
• Identify a suicide risk assessment tool you would use at future sessions to identify changes in her risk level. Explain why you would use this tool.
• Explain any adjustments or enhancements that might be helpful given Tommi’s cultural background. Support your ideas with scholarly resources.