What should a clinician do if a patient endorses suicidal ideation during a C-SSRS?

When a patient endorses suicidal ideation during a C-SSRS assessment, conducting a thorough risk assessment and safety plan is imperative. This approach ensures that the clinician can evaluate the severity and nature of the patient’s thoughts, which is crucial for determining the appropriate level of intervention. A comprehensive risk assessment helps identify specific factors such as intent, planning, means, and any previous attempts, all of which are essential to understand the patient's current state and risk level.

In parallel, creating a safety plan allows for immediate and concrete steps to be established, such as who the patient can reach out to in times of crisis, coping strategies to employ, and situations or thoughts that might trigger their ideation. This proactive measure not only fosters a sense of safety and control for the patient but also demonstrates to them that their concerns are being taken seriously. Therefore, this option reflects the best practice standards for suicide risk assessment and intervention, aligning with the objective of ensuring patient safety and facilitating the need for appropriate care and support.