Risk Assessment & Management Flashcards
7 cards from real SAC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Risk Assessment & Management flashcards as text
When a student discloses a plan to harm themselves but has no means available, how should this be classified on a lethality continuum?
Answer: Moderate risk requiring safety planning
The presence of a plan without means places the student at moderate risk, warranting a collaborative safety plan and increased monitoring.
Which structured tool is most commonly used by school counselors to assess the severity of suicidal ideation in adolescents?
Answer: Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)
The C-SSRS is a validated, widely used instrument specifically designed to assess the intensity and severity of suicidal ideation and behavior.
A student who has made a previous suicide attempt is being re-integrated into school. What is the MOST critical first step for the SAC?
Answer: Conduct a fresh risk assessment before the student returns
A prior attempt is the single strongest predictor of future suicidal behavior, making an updated risk assessment essential before re-entry.
In risk management, what does the term 'means restriction counseling' refer to?
Answer: Educating families to secure or remove lethal items from the home
Means restriction counseling involves working with families to reduce access to lethal means such as firearms and medications, which significantly lowers suicide risk.
A student expresses passive suicidal ideation ('I wish I were dead') but denies a plan or intent. What is the appropriate response?
Answer: Conduct a full risk assessment and document findings
Passive ideation still warrants a thorough risk assessment because it can escalate; documentation protects both the student and the counselor.
Which environmental factor most significantly amplifies suicide risk in adolescents according to research?
Answer: Access to lethal means in the home
Access to lethal means, especially firearms, is the single most potent environmental amplifier of completed suicide in adolescents.
When documenting a student risk assessment, which element is LEAST appropriate to include in the school record?
Answer: Verbatim session transcript of sensitive disclosures
Verbatim transcripts of sensitive clinical disclosures can compromise confidentiality and are not standard documentation practice; summary notes are appropriate.