“Suicide Assessment Interview”
Explore an evidence-based tool about suicide risk assessment and safety planning. See the Week 3 document Suggested Further Reading for SOCW 6090 (PDF) for a list of resources to review.
Watch the “Suicide Assessment Interview” segment in the Sommers-Flanagan (2014) video to assess how it compares to your findings.
research scholarly resources related to suicide and Native American populations.
Post a response in which you address the following:
1. Identify and discuss elements of Dr. Sommers-Flanagan’s suicide risk assessment.
2.Describe the elements of safety planning that you would put in place as Tommi’s social worker in the first week and in the first months.
3.Identify a suicide risk assessment tool you would use at future sessions to identify changes in her risk level. Explain why you would use this tool.
4.Explain any adjustments or enhancements that might be helpful given Tommi’s cultural background. Support your ideas with scholarly resources.
GRADING RUBIC REQUIREMENTS
1. Discussion posting fully addresses all instruction prompts
2. Discussion posting demonstrates an excellent understanding of all of the concepts and key points presented in the text(s) and Learning Resources. Posting provides significant detail including multiple relevant examples, evidence from the readings and other scholarly sources, and discerning ideas
3. Postings are well organized, use scholarly tone, contain original writing and proper paraphrasing, follow APA style, contain very few or no writing and/or spelling errors
RESOURCES
1. Morrison, J. (2014). Diagnosis made easier: Principles and techniques for mental health clinicians (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Chapter 10, “Diagnosis and the Mental Status Exam” (pp. 119–126)
Chapter 17, “Beyond Diagnosis: Compliance, Suicide, Violence” (pp. 271–280)
2. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Assessment measures. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: Author. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596.AssessmentMeasures
3. MedLecturesMadeEasy. (2017, May 29). Mental status exam [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/RdmG739KFF8
4. Sommers-Flanagan, J., & Sommers-Flanagan, R. (Producers). (2014). Clinical interviewing: Intake, assessment and therapeutic alliance [Video file].
Watch the “Suicide Assessment Interview” segment starting at 01:44:37. This is the interview with Tommi, which will be used for the Discussion.
Watch the “Mental Status Examination” segment starting at 01:22:23. This is the case of Carl, which will be used for the Application.
Sample Solution
“Suicide Assessment Interview”
Suicide is one of the leading cause of death in the United States (CDC). Recent increases in death by suicide in the United States have led to national calls for improvements in how suicide risk screening and assessments are conducted. In the video, Dr. Sommers-Flanagan`s suicide risk assessment consist of the following: risk factors, depression assessment, exploration of suicidal ideations (client`s thoughts about suicide), exploration of a safety suicide plan, determination of suicide or intent, and developing a collaborate safety plan. In the video clip, Tommi presents as an American indian/Alaska Native female, with a history of two suicidal attempts, substance abuse addiction, and family history of physical abuse. A safety plan for Tommi would consist of: identifying warning signs, coping methods to address suicidal thoughts, and removing any weapons.
