Measurement Choices for Youth Suicidality

With alarming rates of suicide among youth, the use of valid and reliable suicidality screening tools is vital. Many youths who end up screening positive for suicidal ideation display no apparent mental health challenges, thus screening plays an important role in helping to manage this mental health crisis. This review proposes that primary care is an optimal setting to detect suicidality early and provide appropriate monitoring and care. While the preferred tools used to assess suicidality can vary drastically among providers, with some preferring self-report questionnaires and others relying on clinician-administered forms, they all involve similar questions concerning suicidal thoughts, behaviors, and plans. The authors also provide an overview of available measures of youth suicidality, discussing their psychometric characteristics as well as clinical feasibility.