Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale
Screen Version — Recent
Suicide Risk Screening
Ask each question as written. The risk level updates live as answers are recorded.
Screening tool only — not a substitute for clinical judgment. Maintain patient safety at all times and follow your agency mental health / crisis protocol.
Suicide Ideation
Past month
Ask the questions that are bolded and underlined.
1)Have you wished you were dead or wished you could go to sleep and not wake up?
2)Have you actually had any thoughts of killing yourself?
If YES to Q2, ask questions 3, 4, 5 and 6. If NO to Q2, go directly to question 6.
Suicide Behaviour
Lifetime
6)Have you ever done anything, started to do anything, or prepared to do anything to end your life?
Examples: Collected pills, obtained a gun, gave away valuables, wrote a will or suicide note, took out pills but didn't swallow any, held a gun but changed your mind or it was grabbed from your hand, went to the roof but didn't jump; or actually took pills, tried to shoot yourself, cut yourself, tried to hang yourself, etc.
Assessment result
Answer the questions above — the risk level updates automatically.
Risk legend
Columbia Lighthouse Project. For reference only — verify against current protocol.