Task force says asking all patients about suicide won’t cut risk

National Public Radio

A federal panel examined the case for universal suicide risk screening by primary care providers, and concluded that there is not sufficient evidence to show that this protocol would reduce suicide rates. However, the panel emphasized the importance of careful screening for patients who have a mood disorder, have recently been discharged from a psychiatric hospital, or have recently received medical attention for a deliberate self-harm attempt. “Recent evidence suggests that interventions during these high-risk periods are effective in reducing suicide deaths,” the panel wrote. Doctors sometimes hesitate to ask patients about suicidality, said Julie Goldstein Grumet, director of prevention and practice for the Suicide Prevention Resource Center. “They feel in a bind because someone is at risk of suicide, but they don’t have the staff to reach out to them.” Nevertheless, experts stress the value of engaging with patients who may be at risk. “It’s really important to understand that asking someone if they’re thinking about suicide is not going to make them suicidal,” says Jill Harkavy-Friedman, a clinical psychologist and vice president for research at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Spark Extra! Check out SPRC’s Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Rural Primary Care – with tips and resources to help primary care providers in all environments.