Suicide risk assessment in primary care: what helps when checklists don’t
This episode tackles one of the most difficult consultations we face in primary care: supporting someone who may be thinking about suicide.
Nik and Lee explore how to ask clear, compassionate questions; understand thoughts, plans and intent without relying on tick-box risk scores; and respond with safety planning, appropriate referral and proactive follow-up.
Using A Man Called Otto to illuminate the person behind the presentation, they also consider how risk and protective factors can change, the value of asking “How are you, really?”, and the emotional impact of suicide on clinicians.
Press play for a practical conversation designed to help you feel more confident when your words, curiosity and willingness to listen really matter.
Useful Links
Useful resources for professionals:
- RCPsych - If a patient dies by suicide: a resource for mental health professionals
- NHS Practitioner Health
Useful resources for patients:
- Samaritans (24h confidential helpline. Tel: 116 123. Email: jo@samaritans.org)
- The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) (an organisation dedicated to preventing male suicide. Tel: 0800 58 58 58)
- Staying Safe from suicidal thoughts (printable electronic safety plan template)
- distrACT (information and advice on how to manage difficult feelings, cope with a crisis and find help and support when you need it most)
Listen as soon as you can to ensure you have full access to all the free resources.
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Disclaimer: We make every effort to ensure the information in this podcast is accurate and correct at the date of publication, but it is of necessity of a brief and general nature, and this should not replace your own good clinical judgement, or be regarded as a substitute for taking professional advice in appropriate circumstances. In particular, check drug doses, side-effects and interactions with the British National Formulary. Save insofar as any such liability cannot be excluded at law, we do not accept any liability for loss of any type caused by reliance on the information in this podcast.