LCSW Crisis Intervention and Risk Assessment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which factor is considered the STRONGEST single predictor of future suicide attempts?
- Family history of depression
- Previous suicide attempt (Correct answer)
- Current financial stress
- Diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder
Correct answer: Previous suicide attempt
A history of previous suicide attempts is the single strongest predictor of future suicide attempts, making it a critical element in any risk assessment.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of a safety plan developed during crisis intervention?
- To document the client's diagnosis for insurance billing purposes
- To provide a structured set of coping strategies and emergency contacts for high-risk moments (Correct answer)
- To outline a long-term treatment plan for ongoing therapy
- To identify mandatory criteria for psychiatric hospitalization
Correct answer: To provide a structured set of coping strategies and emergency contacts for high-risk moments
A safety plan is a collaborative, structured document clients can use independently to identify warning signs, coping strategies, and emergency contacts during a crisis.
Question 3: Which of the following is best categorized as a 'protective factor' against suicide?
- Access to lethal means in the home
- Social isolation and withdrawal
- Strong family and social support networks (Correct answer)
- Recent significant personal losses
Correct answer: Strong family and social support networks
Strong social support and a sense of connectedness to others are key protective factors that reduce the likelihood of suicide.
Question 4: In the SAD PERSONS suicide risk scale, what does the letter 'P' represent?
- Plan for suicide
- Previous suicide attempt (Correct answer)
- Psychological risk factors
- Personal history of trauma
Correct answer: Previous suicide attempt
In the SAD PERSONS scale, P stands for Previous attempt, which is one of the most heavily weighted risk factors in the assessment.
Question 5: A client states they have no reason to live but denies having a specific suicide plan. How should the social worker classify this risk level?
- No risk, because the absence of a plan eliminates danger
- Low risk requiring only routine outpatient follow-up
- Moderate risk requiring careful assessment and safety planning (Correct answer)
- Imminent risk requiring immediate involuntary hospitalization
Correct answer: Moderate risk requiring careful assessment and safety planning
Passive suicidal ideation without a specific plan still represents moderate risk and requires thorough assessment, safety planning, and close follow-up.
Question 6: What does 'lethal means counseling' involve in suicide prevention practice?
- Educating clients about medication overdose thresholds and risks
- Working with clients and families to reduce access to potentially lethal items (Correct answer)
- Assessing the lethality of a past suicide attempt's method
- Providing grief therapy to survivors of suicide loss
Correct answer: Working with clients and families to reduce access to potentially lethal items
Lethal means counseling involves reducing client and family access to firearms, medications, and other lethal means to create a safer environment for at-risk individuals.
Question 7: Which type of crisis involves a sudden disruption caused by an unexpected traumatic event affecting an entire community?
- Developmental crisis
- Existential crisis
- Adventitious crisis (Correct answer)
- Maturational crisis
Correct answer: Adventitious crisis
Adventitious crises are unusual and unexpected events — such as natural disasters, mass shootings, or major accidents — that affect multiple community members simultaneously.
LCSW Crisis Intervention and Risk Assessment 2
Which factor is considered the STRONGEST single predictor of future suicide attempts?