My current role includes training mental health and learning disability staff of all disciplines in specialist suicide risk assessment. Within the training I deliver which the training is called STORM (skills training on risk management, developed by Manchester University ) I teach that staff must ask patients if they are experiencing suicidal thoughts. Specifically to ask about the type of thought, frequency, how they manage it, and plans and intent around the thought. It is important to know the answer to this question as it furnishes the assessor with the risk information which will allow them to formulate risk and write a risk mitigation plan.
Clininans however often state that they don't routinely ask the suicide question as it might
Clininans however often state that they don't routinely ask the suicide question as it might