Suicide Prevention, Part 1: Identifying and Predicting Risk, Vulnerable Populations, Public Perceptions, and Priority Settings

October 2020

The topic of suicide prevention has long been a priority among mental health services researchers. A search of the key term “suicide prevention” in the Psychiatric Services archives yielded 445 articles since 1967, including 190 in the past 15 years alone. It also revealed a remarkable breadth of scholarship on a subject as complex as it is elusive; despite clinicians’ best efforts at prevention, suicide rates continue to rise year after year, and many experts fear this trend may be exacerbated by the stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant economic collapse.

In this two-part Editor’s Choice, we aim to represent this multifaceted body of work while acknowledging that this is just a sliver of the complete literature on the topic. Part 1 begins with research articles that explore tools for identifying people who may be at increased risk of suicide and for predicting which individuals may engage in self-harm. These tools include the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire, psychiatric diagnosis, and self-report. Next, we look at populations particularly vulnerable to dying by suicide, including adolescents, college students, active duty soldiers, veterans, and older adults. Some of the most-read articles in Psychiatric Services are in the section on public perceptions of suicide. Finally, as demonstrated in the subsequent group of articles, many studies examine specific clinical settings for suicide prevention, such as outpatient mental health and primary care appointments, emergency department (ED) visits, and follow-up after discharge from inpatient psychiatric units.

Part 2 of this collection focuses on evidence-based practices, cost-effectiveness, and future directions in suicide prevention.

Matthew L. Goldman, M.D., M.S.
Lisa B. Dixon, M.D., M.P.H.

Browse all Editor’s Choice collections

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Identifying and Predicting Risk

Does Suicidal Ideation as Measured by the PHQ-9 Predict Suicide Among VA Patients?
Samantha A. Louzon, M.P.H., Robert Bossarte, Ph.D., John F. McCarthy, Ph.D., M.P.H., Ira R. Katz, M.D., Ph.D.
2016, Volume 67, Issue 5, pp. 517–522


Coping With Suicidal Thoughts: A Survey of Personal Experience
Gregory E. Simon, M.D., M.P.H., Cynthia Specht, B.A., Allen Doederlein, B.A.
2016, Volume 67, Issue 9, pp. 1026–1029


Diagnosed Mental Health Conditions and Risk of Suicide Mortality
Hsueh-Han Yeh, Ph.D., Joslyn Westphal, M.P.H., Yong Hu, M.A., Edward L. Peterson, Ph.D., L. Keoki Williams, M.D., M.P.H., Deepak Prabhakar, M.D., M.P.H., Cathrine Frank, M.D., Kirsti Autio, M.S.W., Farah Elsiss, M.S., T.L.L.P., Gregory E. Simon, M.D., M.P.H., Arne Beck, Ph.D., Frances L. Lynch, Ph.D., M.S.P.H., Rebecca C. Rossom, M.D., M.S., Christine Y. Lu, Ph.D., M.Sc., Ashli A. Owen-Smith, Ph.D., S.M., Beth E. Waitzfelder, Ph.D., Brian K. Ahmedani, Ph.D.
2019, Volume 70, Issue 9, pp. 750–757


Self-Reported Suicidal Ideation as a Predictor of Suicidal Behavior Among Outpatients With Diagnoses of Psychotic Disorders
Gregory E. Simon, M.D., M.P.H., Bobbi Jo Yarborough, Ph.D., Rebecca C. Rossom, M.D., M.S., Jean M. Lawrence, Sc.D., M.P.H., Frances L. Lynch, Ph.D., Beth E. Waitzfelder, Ph.D., Brian K. Ahmedani, Ph.D., Susan M. Shortreed, Ph.D.
2019, Volume 70, Issue 3, pp. 176–183

Vulnerable Populations

Best Practices: The Utah Youth Suicide Study: Best Practices for Suicide Prevention Through the Juvenile Court System
Doug Gray, M.D., Kristin L. Dawson, M.D., Todd C. Grey, M.D., and William M. McMahon, M.D.
2011, Volume 62, Issue 12, pp. 1416–1418


Mental Health Service Use Among Suicidal Adolescents: Findings From a U.S. National Community Survey
Ping Wu, Ph.D., Bozena J. Katic, M.P.H., M.P.A., Xinhua Liu, Ph.D., Bin Fan, M.D., Cordelia J. Fuller, M.S.
2010, Volume 61, Issue 1, pp. 17–24


Suicide Risk Assessment and Prevention: A Systematic Review Focusing on Veterans
Heidi D. Nelson, M.D., M.P.H., Lauren M. Denneson, Ph.D., Allison R. Low, B.A., Brian W. Bauer, M.S., Maya O’Neil, Ph.D., Devan Kansagara, M.D., M.C.R., Alan R. Teo, M.D., M.S.
2017, Volume 68, Issue 10, pp. 1003–1015


Research to Reduce the Suicide Rate Among Older Adults: Methodology Roadblocks and Promising Paradigms
Katalin Szanto, M.D., Eric J. Lenze, M.D., Margda Waern, M.D., Ph.D., Paul Duberstein, Ph.D., Martha L. Bruce, Ph.D., M.P.H., Gary Epstein-Lubow, M.D., and Yeates Conwell, M.D.
2013, Volume 64, Issue 6, pp. 586–589

Public Perceptions

Public Awareness Campaigns About Depression and Suicide: A Review
Hélène Dumesnil, M.S., Pierre Verger, M.D., M.S.
2009, Volume 60, Issue 9, pp. 1203–1213


13 Reasons Why: Viewing Patterns and Perceived Impact Among Youths at Risk of Suicide
Victor Hong, M.D., Cynthia J. Ewell Foster, Ph.D., Christina S. Magness, L.M.S.W., Taylor C. McGuire, B.S., Patricia K. Smith, M.S., Cheryl A. King, Ph.D.
2019, Volume 70, Issue 2, pp. 107–114


Increases in Demand for Crisis and Other Suicide Prevention Services After a Celebrity Suicide
Rajeev Ramchand, Ph.D., Elan Cohen, M.S., John Draper, Ph.D., Michael Schoenbaum, Ph.D., Dan Reidenberg, Psy.D., Lisa Colpe, Ph.D., M.P.H., Jerry Reed, Ph.D., Jane Pearson, Ph.D.
2019, Volume 70, Issue 8, pp. 728–731

Also featured in the Community-Based Mental Health Crisis Services collection.

Featured in our Alexa Flash Briefing, Psychiatric News Brief.

Settings for Prevention

Service Use in the Month and Year Prior to Suicide Among Adults Enrolled in Ohio Medicaid
Cynthia A. Fontanella, Ph.D., Lynn A. Warner, Ph.D., Danielle L. Hiance-Steelesmith, M.S.W., Helen Anne Sweeney, M.S., Jeffrey A. Bridge, Ph.D., Richard McKeon, Ph.D., John V. Campo, M.D.
2017, Volume 68, Issue 7, pp. 674–680


Critical Periods for Increased Mortality After Discharge From Inpatient Mental Health Units: Opportunities for Prevention
Ira R. Katz, M.D., Ph.D., Talya Peltzman, M.P.H., Jenefer M. Jedele, Ph.D., M.Sc., John F. McCarthy, Ph.D., M.P.H.
2019, Volume 70, Issue 6, pp. 450–456


Understanding Why Patients May Not Report Suicidal Ideation at a Health Care Visit Prior to a Suicide Attempt: A Qualitative Study
Julie E. Richards, M.P.H., Ursula Whiteside, Ph.D., Evette J. Ludman, Ph.D., Chester Pabiniak, B.A., Beth Kirlin, B.A., Rianna Hidalgo, B.A., Greg Simon, M.D., M.P.H.
2019, Volume 70, Issue 1, pp. 40–45


Mental Health Service Use Among Adults With Suicide Ideation, Plans, or Attempts: Results From a National Survey
Ian H. Stanley, B.A., Melanie A. Hom, B.A., Thomas E. Joiner, Ph.D.
2015, Volume 66, Issue 12, pp. 1296–1302