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Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (Screener)
Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (Screener)
1. Wish to be dead
2. Non-specific active suicidal thoughts
3. Active thoughts with any method (no plan/intent)
4. Active thoughts with some intent to act
5. Active thoughts with specific plan and intent
6. Suicidal behaviour (ever / recent)
ResultNo ideation or behaviour endorsed
No positive items; continue clinical judgement.
- Triage category
- No ideation or behaviour endorsed
When to use
- Standardised screening for suicidal ideation and behaviour to guide triage and referral.
Formula
Hierarchical logic: a positive item 4, 5 or 6 (intent, plan or behaviour) = high risk; item 3 alone = moderate; item 1 or 2 alone = low; none = no risk endorsed.
Pearls and pitfalls
- This is a screen — a positive answer, especially to behaviour or plan/intent, mandates fuller assessment.
- Recent (past-month) behaviour or ideation carries greater acute concern than lifetime-only items.