The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) for the Assessment of Mental Health.

Download the link below to access the screening form. Please keep in mind that there is no scoring or pass/fail light bulb that goes off. This rating scale is designed for professionals, however we understand that many in need will use it. That’s a good first step. Please use common sense when trying to access your answers or of those you’re caring for. If they have a plan to commit suicide, that’s more urgent than if they have suicidal thoughts. Call 988 to get professional help. We only present this for reference as we can not take any responsibility for your actions accessing the scale through our site.

Suicide-Risk-Assessment-C-SSRS-Lifeline-Version-2014

What is the the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)?

The C-SSRS is a questionnaire used for suicide assessment developed by multiple institutions, including Columbia University. The scale is evidence-supported and is part of a national and international public health initiative involving the assessment of suicidality. Available in 103 different languages, the scale has been successfully implemented across many settings, including schools, college campuses, military, fire departments, the justice system, primary care and for scientific research.

The Risk Assessment version is three pages long, with the initial page focusing on a checklist of all risk and protective factors that may apply. This page is designed to be completed following the client (caller) interview. Think of it as them taking your vitals before moving on to the real exam.

The next two pages make up the formal assessment. The C-SSRS Risk Assessment is intended to help establish a person’s immediate risk of suicide and is used in acute care settings.

How To “Score” Yourself or A Loved One

See above: use common sense. Don’t score yourself, call 988 if you think you’re in trouble. But if you’re here, you’re already moving in the right direction. What follows is for clinical professionals, but to offer a more complete guide, we have included it. Don’t be alarmed by the categories. If you’re not a professional clinician, you have no experience to make a categorical judgement. This is what is going on on the other side of a clinical visit and it’s important that you understand where and how they are placing you or your loved one.

Here’s the PDF from which I sourced this information.

The following outcomes are C-SSRS categories and have binary (yes/no) responses. The categories have been re-ordered from the actual scale to facilitate the definitions of the composite and comparative endpoints, and to enable clarity in the presentation of the
results.

Category 1 – Wish to be Dead
Category 2 – Non-specific Active Suicidal Thoughts
Category 3 – Active Suicidal Ideation with Any Methods (Not Plan) without Intent to Act
Category 4 – Active Suicidal Ideation with Some Intent to Act, without Specific Plan
Category 5 – Active Suicidal Ideation with Specific Plan and Intent
Category 6 – Preparatory Acts or Behavior
Category 7 – Aborted Attempt
Category 8 – Interrupted Attempt
Category 9 – Actual Attempt (non-fatal)
Category 10 – Completed Suicide

Self-injurious behavior without suicidal intent is also a C-SSRS outcome (although not suicide-related) and has a binary response (yes/no).
The following outcome is a numerical score derived from the C-SSRS categories. The score is created at each assessment for each patient and is used for determining treatment emergence.

Suicidal Ideation Score: The maximum suicidal ideation category (1-5 on the CSSRS) present at the assessment. Assign a score of 0 if no ideation is present.

Endpoints:
Composite endpoints based on the above categories are defined below. Suicidal ideation: A “yes” answer at any time during treatment to any one of the five suicidal ideation questions (Categories 1-5) on the C-SSRS.

Suicidal behavior: A “yes” answer at any time during treatment to any one of the five suicidal behavior questions (Categories 6-10) on the C-SSRS.

Suicidal ideation or behavior: A “yes” answer at any time during treatment to any one of the ten suicidal ideation and behavior questions

(Categories 1-10) on the C-SSRS.

About Once A Soldier: Starting in 2017, our mission is to limit the scars of Veteran suicide. We offer prevention services and postvention services. We reach a national audience and our goal is to become the preferred channel for those who want to help Veteran families who need our services. With 17 Veteran suicides a day in 2021, we believe our two niche services will make a difference to each family and to our nation.