Psychiatry Boot Camp 3.8 Suicide Risk Assessment
Jun 16, 2025
Tyler Black, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the University of British Columbia, dives into the critical topic of suicide risk assessment. He debunks common myths and emphasizes the necessity of empathetic communication during evaluations. The discussion highlights the emotional burden felt by both patients and healthcare providers. Black categorizes suicidal motivations using a sociological framework and stresses the importance of tailored interventions. He also navigates the complexities of patient autonomy versus safety in mental health care.
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Build Rapport Before Suicide Talk
- Build rapport genuinely before asking about suicide; treat the conversation as a human-to-human interaction.
- Walk patients through their day to naturally explore their suicidal thoughts and psychiatry history.
Use Respectful Suicide Language
- Avoid stigmatizing or judgmental language such as 'commit suicide' or 'parasuicide.'
- Use clear terms like 'dying by suicide,' 'suicide attempt,' or 'non-suicidal self-injury' to communicate respectfully.
Optimism in Suicide Risk
- Suicidal thoughts occur much more often than suicide deaths, with about 20% of adolescents seriously considering it yearly.
- This disparity means psychiatrists should maintain realistic optimism when assessing suicide risk.
