Suicide Risk Assessment: What It Is and Why It Matters
- Amanda Moses Psychology
- Apr 14
- 4 min read
As psychologists, we often sit with clients in their most vulnerable moments. And sometimes, that means gently asking difficult—but life-saving—questions. One of our most critical responsibilities is being able to assess suicide risk. Yet for many early-career clinicians, conducting a suicide risk assessment can feel daunting or uncertain.
Let’s walk through what a suicide risk assessment actually involves, who is qualified to carry it out, and why it’s a skill every mental health professional must feel confident in.
What Is a Suicide Risk Assessment?
A suicide risk assessment is a structured process used to evaluate whether an individual is at risk of harming themselves. It goes far beyond asking, “Are you thinking about suicide?”—although that question is part of it. A thorough suicide assessment considers the person’s current mental state, risk factors, protective factors, intent, plans, access to means, and their level of ambivalence or impulsivity.
Assessments are typically conducted through clinical interviews, and sometimes supplemented by standardised tools. These tools can be helpful, but they’re no substitute for a skilled clinician who knows how to hold the space with care and curiosity.
We assess risk not just to assign a category of “low,” “medium,” or “high,” but to inform what happens next—whether that’s hospitalisation, a safety plan, or continued monitoring with close supports in place.
What Does the Assessment Process Involve?
The first step in any suicide risk assessment is creating a safe environment. Clients need to feel they can speak honestly without fear of judgment or being “locked away” for having suicidal thoughts. That’s why rapport and a strong therapeutic relationship are so vital.
From there, the assessment typically includes:
Asking directly about suicidal thoughts, plans, means, and intent
Exploring contributing factors such as recent stressors, past trauma, substance use, or psychiatric history
Identifying protective factors, such as reasons for living, connected relationships, or faith-based beliefs
Assessing the client’s level of impulse control, hopelessness, and willingness to engage in safety planning
It’s also important to consider underlying issues—such as untreated mood disorders, neurodivergence, or chronic pain—that may be contributing to the client’s level of distress.
As psychologists, we need to not only assess risk but know what to do once risk is identified. This includes developing a safety plan, providing crisis resources, collaborating with medical professionals when needed, and ensuring the client isn’t left unsupported between sessions.
Who Can Conduct a Suicide Risk Assessment?
Suicide risk assessments should always be conducted by trained professionals. In Australia, this includes psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health social workers, mental health nurses, and other professionals with appropriate training and supervision.
If you’re a provisional or early-career psychologist, know that you don’t have to be perfect—just competent and compassionate. Seek supervision often, debrief difficult cases, and take time to develop this vital skill set. A good suicide risk assessment can genuinely save a life.
Why It Matters More Than Ever
We are living in a time where mental health issues are on the rise, particularly among younger populations. In Australia and globally, suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among people aged 15–44. And yet, so many individuals at risk remain undetected or unsupported until it’s too late.
Being confident in your ability to assess and respond to suicide risk is a non-negotiable skill for any psychologist. It’s not just about protecting the profession—it’s about protecting the people who walk through your door each day, often unsure if anyone can really help.
How Do You Conduct a Suicide Risk Assessment?
While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, suicide risk assessments typically involve the following steps:
Establish psychological safety – Begin by building rapport and gently inviting disclosure. Clients must feel safe enough to talk about difficult thoughts without fear of judgment or immediate hospitalisation.
Ask direct but compassionate questions – It’s essential to ask clearly about suicidal thoughts, plans, intent, and access to means. Tiptoeing around these questions often leads to missed information.
Evaluate contributing and protective factors – This includes past attempts, mental health history, substance use, social supports, and reasons for living.
Assess level of risk – Based on your clinical judgment, assess whether the client is low, moderate, or high risk, and what interventions are needed.
Develop a safety plan – If appropriate, co-create a collaborative safety plan that the client feels they can actually follow.
💡 These are just the broad strokes. In my CPD training, I walk you through real-life examples, scripts for tricky moments, and the nuances that come with clinical decision-making under pressure.
Building Your Confidence
If you’re not sure whether you’re conducting suicide assessments effectively or you feel uncertain about what to do when someone discloses suicidal ideation, I have a comprehensive, on-demand CPD training designed specifically for this. It’s been created with psychologists and allied health professionals in mind and will walk you through how to:
✔ Ask the right questions
✔ Make clinical judgments about risk
✔ Develop practical, collaborative safety plans
✔ Understand the documentation and ethical considerations involved
Whether you’re new to the profession or just need to build your confidence, this is essential training that every practitioner should have in their toolkit.
➡ Learn more about the CPD training here:
If you are looking for more advanced training that takes you beyond the safety plan, providing you with a structured and evidence-based training for suicidal ideation, you can check out this training here:
If you're looking for a customisable, editable template that you can use digitally or in print form, check out my risk assessment template here:
