What are key components of a suicide risk assessment?

• A. Ideation, intent, plan, means, prior attempts; protective factors; safety planning
• B. Vital signs, medical history, and current medications
• C. Family history only
• D. Social factors only

Answer: (A)

Assessing suicide risk hinges on a comprehensive, dynamic evaluation of both risk factors and protective factors. The best answer captures the full picture: current ideation and its frequency, intensity, and ability to control it; intent to act and whether there is a concrete plan; access to the means to carry out that plan; and any prior attempts, all of which strongly influence risk level. Including protective factors—like social supports, coping skills, and reasons for living—helps gauge resilience and guides intervention. Safety planning translates assessment into action: removing means, identifying coping strategies, arranging follow-up care, and identifying emergency contacts for times of heightened risk.

Other options miss key elements. Medical data such as vital signs or medications do not assess ongoing risk or intent. Focusing on family history alone ignores current ideation, planning, and protective factors. Looking at social factors only misses the internal cognitive and behavioral components that drive risk and the concrete steps needed to keep someone safe. This approach is essential for timely identification and intervention when risk is present.