Chief Clinical Officer Stop Soldier Suicide New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Abstract : Research
Aims: Accurate and timely screening can uncover suicide risk and create an opportunity for the delivery of life-saving interventions. This study evaluates the efficacy of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRS) when used as an initial web-based or telephone screener among veterans seeking mental health support. Current practices often categorize CSSRS responses into minimal, low, moderate, and high risk. A threshold of moderate or higher risk on the screener is often used to determine the need for follow-up assessment, but even individuals with thoughts of suicide who otherwise screen at low risk may still benefit from follow-up assessments and interventions.
Methods: All prospective clients at Stop Soldier Suicide receive an initial CSSRS screening at the time of initial contact. However, in addition to the CSSRS, all of our prospective clients receive a comprehensive suicide risk assessment regardless of their initial CSSRS screening results.
Results: This has allowed us to identify significant discrepancies, in which potential clients frequently screen negative on the web-based CSSRS screener and are later identified as moderate to high suicide risk through assessment during an interview-based intake. We will discuss these findings in detail, and highlight the need for qualitative insights to better understand why some veterans do not disclose suicidal thoughts during initial screenings.
Conclusion: Our findings underscore the potential consequences of false negatives in other healthcare settings that use suicide screeners to determine whether follow-up assessments and treatments should be offered, and emphasize the importance of refining screening processes and exploring alternative methods that enhance the sensitivity of suicide risk detection.
