How to Conduct a Suicide Risk Assessment: Myths- Structure & Strategy
A season on consultation-liaison psychiatry would be incomplete without a dedicated episode on suicide risk assessment—and this one is truly exceptional.
In this powerful episode, Dr. Tyler Black, a leading suicidologist and child psychiatrist at British Columbia Children’s Hospital, joins Dr. Mullen to explore the critical, sensitive, and often misunderstood territory of suicide risk evaluation. Dr. Black is recognized globally for his clinical and academic contributions to suicide prevention—and he says, “Without exaggeration, this podcast is one of the professional things in life that I am most proud of.”
We invite you to listen to what may be one of the most professionally meaningful and practically useful psychiatry discussions you’ll encounter.
🧠 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
✔️ Common myths and misconceptions about suicide
✔️ How to structure a suicide risk assessment interview
✔️ Key questions to ask when exploring suicidal thoughts
✔️ The motivations behind suicidal ideation and behavior
✔️ Clinical frameworks for decision-making in high-risk cases
✔️ Best practices for documentation in your notes and EMR
✔️ What evidence actually supports effective suicide prevention
This episode is essential for psychiatrists, emergency physicians, psychologists, social workers, medical students, residents, and all mental health professionals who encounter suicide risk in clinical settings.
📘 Why This Topic Matters
Suicide is a leading cause of death worldwide, and clinicians are often tasked with making fast, high-stakes decisions based on nuanced clinical impressions. Yet suicide risk assessment remains one of the least standardized and most anxiety-inducing components of mental health care.
This episode breaks that down—offering a compassionate, structured, and evidence-informed approach that empowers clinicians to conduct thoughtful, ethical, and legally sound assessments. Dr. Black's expertise and clarity bring structure to complexity and depth to documentation.
📖 Featured Reference:
O’Connor et al. (2004) – “Changeability, confidence, common sense and corroboration: Comprehensive suicide risk assessment”
🔗 Read the study
This landmark article is discussed in the episode as a framework for real-world application in suicide risk documentation and decision-making.
👥 Meet the Expert – Dr. Tyler Black
• Suicidologist and Medical Director at BC Children's Hospital
• Specialist in pediatric emergency psychiatry
• Advocate for compassionate, evidence-based suicide prevention
• Researcher, educator, and thought leader in suicide ethics and risk modeling
His candid insights cut through stigma, fear, and misinformation to deliver a message of clarity and responsibility in clinical suicide risk management.
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💬 Join the Conversation:
What’s your experience with suicide risk assessment? Do you have approaches that work well in your setting? Share your thoughts in the comments to help support other clinicians.
📌 Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction & Importance of Suicide Risk Assessment
01:45 – Suicide Myths & Misconceptions
04:30 – How to Structure the Risk Interview
08:20 – Exploring Patient Motivations
13:10 – Clinical Decision-Making Frameworks
17:05 – Documentation Pearls
22:15 – Suicide Prevention Strategies That Work
26:40 – Final Reflections from Dr. Black
📢 Next Episode Sneak Peek:
In our next session, we move deeper into the world of psychiatric emergencies and explore how psychiatric consultants collaborate in acute medical settings.
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