Citation

Patel A, Watts C, Shiddell S, Couch K, Smith AM, Moran MJ, Conners GP. Arch. Suicide Res. 2018; 22(1): 118-127.

Affiliation

University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine , Kansas City , MO , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, International Academy of Suicide Research, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13811118.2017.1304303

PMID

28281893

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this article is to describe the implementation of a two-question suicide screening tool in a pediatric urgent care center to identify patients at risk of suicide.

METHODS: Adolescents presenting during a 12-month period completed the screening tool. Positive response to either question triggered further social work evaluation, including a Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale.

RESULTS: Of 4786 patients screened, 95 (2%) responded positively. Of these, 75 (79%) also had a positive C-SSRS. Only 7 (7%) had chief complaints related to mental health. Seventy-eight patients (82%) were discharged with outpatient mental health referral, and 10 (10%) were admitted to a psychiatric facility.

CONCLUSIONS: Universal adolescent suicide screening in an acute care setting did not significantly affect flow in our pediatric urgent care and was able to detect patients at risk of suicide, especially those with chief complaints unrelated to mental health.

Language: en

Keywords

C-SSRS - Columbia-suicide severity rating scale; adolescents; mental health; pediatric urgent care; suicide; suicide screening; youth