Objective@#The aim of the study was to develop a
checklist for
mental health clinicians to predict and manage suicidality. @*
Methods@#A
literature review of the
risk and
protective factors for
suicide was conducted to develop a
checklist for evaluating suicidality. @*Results@#The fixed
risk factors included
sex (
male), age (older individuals),
history of childhood adversity, and a
family history of
suicide. Changeable
risk factors included
marital status (single),
economic status (
poverty), physical illness,
history of psychiatric
hospitalization, and
history of
suicide attempts. Recent discharge from a
mental hospital and a recent
history of
suicide attempts were also included. Manageable
risk factors included
depression (
history and current),
alcohol problems (frequent
drinking and
alcohol abuse), hopelessness, agitation,
impulsivity, impaired
reality testing, and command
hallucinations.
Protective factors included responsibility to
family,
social support, moral objections to
suicide, religiosity,
motivation to get
treatment,
ability to cope with stress, and a
healthy lifestyle. A final score was assigned based on the sum of the
risk and
protective factor scores. @*Conclusion@#We believe that the development of this
checklist will help
mental health clinicians to better assess those at
risk for suicidal
behavior. Further studies are necessary to validate the
checklist.