M -Mental health | Does the patient have a psychiatric diagnosis? |
Is he or she taking psychotropic medications? |
Is there a family history of mental health illness? |
A -Attempts | When did the patient first consider suicide? |
Has the patient tried to harm him- or herself before? |
Did he or she receive medical attention for that attempt? |
L -Lethality | Did the patient want to die? |
Does he or she still want to? |
Does he or she have access to lethal means? |
P -Plans | Is the patient able to make plans for the future? |
Will he or she graduate from school? |
What kind of job will he or she do? |
R -Risk-taking | Is the patient engaging in activities that may be disguised attempts at self-harm? |
Is the patient engaging in unprotected sexual activity? |
A -Alcohol and drugs | Were substances involved in the current attempt? |
For how long have substances been used? |
What substances are being used? |
When was the last use? |
C -Conflict | Is there an interpersonal conflict that precipitated this event? |
T -Trauma | Does the patient report having been physically or sexually abused? |
Has the patient been a witness to violence? |
Has the patient recently lost a loved one? |
I -Impulsivity | Was the act premeditated? |
How much planning went into the suicide attempt? |
Was a suicide note written? |
Did the patient tell anyone about his or her plans? |
C -Community resources | Does the patient have a social support system? |
E -Exposure | Have other family members or friends attempted or completed suicide? |
Has the patient been exposed to suicide in the media? |
Is this attempt part of a suicide epidemic? |