What acronym helps identify key risk factors for suicide?

The acronym that helps identify key risk factors for suicide is SADPERSONS. This mnemonic device is specifically designed to aid in assessing an individual's potential risk for suicide by highlighting several critical factors. Each letter stands for a different element that may indicate heightened risk.

The components of SADPERSONS are:

• S: Sex (male)

• A: Age (teenagers and elderly)

• D: Depression

• P: Previous suicide attempts

• E: Ethanol (alcohol) use

• R: Rational thinking loss

• S: Social support lacking

• O: Organized plan

• N: No spouse

• S: Sickness (chronic illness)

Using SADPERSONS allows responders, such as officers and mental health professionals, to quickly evaluate significant risk indicators while facilitating immediate intervention and support measures.

While other acronyms like SAPROF, FACES, and CRISIS may relate to mental health assessments or intervention frameworks, they are not specifically tailored to identify suicide risk factors in the way SADPERSONS is. This focus on the combination of these factors makes SADPERSONS a particularly effective tool for understanding and evaluating suicide risk.