Suicide Prevention Checklist for Mental Health Practitioners

This page offers a structured guide for providers responding to suicidal thoughts or behaviors in patients. It includes a checklist for clinical response, essential referral resources, and a downloadable gold-standard safety plan template to guide care.

1. Initial Clinical Assessment

Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)

Developed by: Columbia University, with support from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

  • Evidence-based and widely validated across clinical, emergency, and research settings

  • Endorsed by SAMHSA, the CDC, the Joint Commission, and the U.S. Army

  • Differentiates between suicidal ideation, intent, plans, and actual behavior

  • Helps determine level of risk (low, moderate, high)

  • Adaptable for self-report and clinician-administered use

  • Available in many languages and for all age groups

Versions Commonly Used:

C-SSRS Screener Recent Self-Report – 6-item short form used in most outpatient settings

C-SSRS Full Scale Lifetime/Recent – Used for detailed evaluation and documentation

SAFE-T with Lifetime/Recent – Often used in emergency or inpatient settings to determine disposition and safety planning needs

Access recommended C-SSRS Training

2. Immediate Safety Interventions

  • Remove or reduce access to means (e.g., secure firearms, limit access to medications)

  • Engage support system: family, friends, crisis team

  • Supervise patient if high risk and ensure safe environment

  • Determine need for emergency room evaluation, hospitalization or intensive outpatient referral

3. Collaborative Safety Planning

The Stanley-Brown Safety Plan is to be completed collaboratively with the patient, which includes:

  • Warning signs

  • Internal coping strategies

  • Social contacts and settings that can provide distraction

  • People to ask for help

  • Professional agencies to contact

  • Steps to make the environment safe

  • Available in many languages

the Stanley-Brown Safety Plan

Access recommended suicide prevention training

4. Referral and Follow-Up Resources

  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 — 24/7 national support

  • Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

  • Local emergency room or psychiatric crisis services

  • Mobile crisis teams (search by county/state)

  • Therapist or psychiatrist referral for ongoing care

  • Schedule follow-up within 24–72 hours after acute presentation