A structured look at a person’s current level of danger to themselves or others.
In the context of addiction treatment:
Assesses suicide risk, overdose risk, self-harm, violence, and medical emergencies to decide if hospitalization or a higher level of care is needed.
What to know:
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You may be asked direct questions about suicidal thoughts, plans, and access to means.
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Being honest helps providers protect you and get you the right level of support.
Example:
After a relapse, a counselor does a risk assessment when a client says they “don’t care if they wake up tomorrow.”