Client Perceptions and Perceived Utility of Standardised Routine Monitoring of Suicide Risk in Psychological Therapy

Standardised, routine use of suicide risk measures may function not only as assessment, but in fostering the disclosure, discussion, and management of risk. However, very few studies have examined client perceptions, and if they perceive them as mechanisms of disclosure and engagement. The current study provides preliminary evidence of this from Australian-based psychology services. Help-seeking individuals commencing therapy (N = 83, Mage = 32.3, SD = 12, 60.2% men) were surveyed on their perceptions of a brief, standardised, online-administered suicide risk measure after the first session/use of the measure, and a subsample (n = 24) were surveyed again at a six-week follow-up. The measure was perceived generally as being acceptable, helpful, easy to use, and low burden. Among participants with current suicidal ideation there was evidence of it having perceived utility in talking about, understanding, and managing suicidal thoughts. Positive previous experiences of disclosure were related to more positive perceptions of the measure. Over time, the perceptions of the measure remained positive. In the context of limitations such as a small sample, this study provides initial evidence of the feasibility and client perceptions of administering standardised, routine suicide risk measures. Future research may supplement these finding by investigating clinician perceptions and practices regarding routine measurement of suicide ideation and investigate the clinical outcomes of routine measurement on suicide risk.