A nurse is providing education to a group of healthcare professionals about suicide and suicidal ideation. Which of the following statements accurately describes suicidal ideation?

Choice A rationale:

Identifying and challenging positive thoughts is a cognitive-behavioral strategy that can be beneficial for managing mental health, but it is not the top priority in suicide prevention education. While it contributes to overall emotional well-being, recognizing signs of suicide risk is more directly relevant to preventing self-harm.

Choice B rationale:

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of suicide risk is crucial for early intervention and support. Educating clients and their families about these signs, such as increased isolation, giving away possessions, or talking about death, enables them to identify when someone might be in danger and take appropriate action.

Choice C rationale:

Promoting alcohol consumption as a stress-relieving strategy is inappropriate in a suicide prevention context. Alcohol can exacerbate emotional distress and impair judgment, potentially leading to impulsive behaviors, including self-harm. This choice goes against safe and effective strategies for managing distress.

Choice D rationale:

Encouraging isolation during times of distress is counterproductive and potentially harmful. Isolation can exacerbate feelings of loneliness and hopelessness, increasing the risk of suicidal ideation and actions. Connecting with a support network is a more appropriate recommendation during times of distress.

Choice A rationale:

This statement is not accurate. The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) is not focused on assessing suicide-related thoughts and behaviors in the past year. Instead, it is designed to assess the severity of suicidal ideation and behavior over a specified time frame.

Choice B rationale:

This statement is not accurate. The C-SSRS is not a self-report questionnaire for depression and suicidal ideation in the past two weeks. It is a structured interview that involves a series of questions and prompts administered by a trained clinician to assess the severity of suicidal ideation and behavior.

Choice C rationale:

This statement is accurate. The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) guides the evaluation and triage of patients with suicidal ideation or behavior based on five steps: Determining the presence of active suicidal ideation. Assessing the intensity of ideation. Examining the presence and severity of any preparatory behavior. Evaluating the level of intent to die. Determining the lethality of the suicide plan. The C-SSRS is widely used in clinical and research settings to assess suicide risk and guide appropriate interventions.

Choice D rationale:

This statement is not accurate. The C-SSRS does not measure the severity and intensity of suicidal ideation and behavior in the past month. It focuses on assessing the severity of suicidal ideation and behavior based on the steps mentioned in choice C.