A PROCESS MODEL FOR ASSESSING ADOLESCENT RISK FOR SUICIDE

As the incidence of adolescent suicide within our society continues to rise, it becomes increasingly important for the mental health profess ional to be able to accurately assess suicide risk in adolescents who seek help. This process model discusses primary risk factors (previous attempt, affective disorders, and hopelessness), secondary risk facto rs (substance abuse and personality or behavioral disorders), situatio nal risk factors (family functioning, suicide exposure, social support , life stressors, and homosexuality), and their combined implications and significance in determining an adolescent's level or risk for suic ide. Use of both empirical data and clinical intuition are integrated to form a working client model that is continuously reassessed in four stages, guiding the mental health professional through a comprehensiv e assessment process. (C) 1998 The Association for Professionals in Se rvices for Adolescents.