Suicide

Suicide Assessment Mnemonics

IS PATH WARM: Mnemonic used to assess the risk of suicide (warning signs):

   I    Ideation (thinking, talking or wishing about suicide)
   S    Substance use or abuse (increased use or change in substance)
   P    Purposelessness (no sense of purpose or belonging)
   A    Anger
   T    Trapped (feeling like there is no way out)
   H    Hopelessness (there is nothing to live for, no hope or optimism)
   W   Withdrawal (from family, friends, work, school, activities, hobbies)
   A    Anxiety (restlessness, irritability, agitation, changes in sleep pattern)
   R    Recklessness (high risk-taking behavior)
   M    Mood disturbance (dramatic changes in mood)

SAD PERSONS: The score is calculated from ten yes/no questions, with points given for each affirmative answer as follows:

   S    Male sex → 1
   A    Age <19 or >45 years → 1
   D    Depression or hopelessness → 2
   P    Previous suicidal attempts or psychiatric care → 1
   E    Excessive ethanol or drug use → 1
   R    Rational thinking loss (psychotic or organic illness) → 2
   S    Single, widowed or divorced → 1
   O    Organized or serious attempt → 2
   N    No social support → 1
   S    Stated future intent (determined to repeat or ambivalent) → 2

This score is then mapped onto a risk assessment scale as follows:
   0-5:  May be safe to discharge (depending upon circumstances)
   6-8:  Probably requires psychiatric consultation
   8-13:  Probably requires hospital admission illness

Hope this helps!

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7 Comments

  • This is good useful information. I think it will certainly benefit anyone needing further advice and planning. I found it interesting. Thank you.

  • Every one has their own problems few of them facing and few of them not they may think for solution as suicide.
    If Braille committed suicide now days none of blind person cant read and write or express their feelings…
    you also born for something to do great.. do that.. don’t waste your life in middle…
    Bill gates father as a wood cutter.. Bill gates failed in his academics while if he think I am waste … we lost Bill gates now…
    You can do more than Bill gates do before die…
    don’t stop your soul growth…
    who are committed suicide they face much more problems than their facing in their life.. that may 1000 times more…
    After they are on earth as a devil for a long time also..
    please Don’t commute suicide

  • My grandfather abused me, my mother hit me for speaking loudly to grandfather, my grandmother says i’m bad. People think that I’m not cultural because I speak. I’m ugly(everyone says),I’m not good at studies. I think I’m worthless and just want to die. I want to kill everyone and die. I want to kill every person to speaks to me loudly.

  • Scored 12, which is about right—given my suicide attempt 18 months ago, and what I intend to finish on Saturday. This time there will be no time for the police to stop me from dying, no ER folks to resuscitate me, and no extended (involuntary, and unwelcome) hospital stay in the mental health ward. Good luck to those of you who still some fight left inside… I’m done now.

  • I want to die. Even as I lay next to my wife. I have an awesome daughter and granddaughter with another on the way. I’m a well established successful professional with much to be grateful for. I can not blame any other. My greatest challenge is the insurance that wouldn’t pay due it being a suicide. I know it’s selfish but that has been one of my biggest problems. I have a mental disorder that includes several symptoms that add up and have for years. I have been in therapy for years with little success. My belief is that at 60 I have lived through enough mistakes that I see added relief for many. Don’t get me wrong, I’m actually in the helping profession and have been so over 30 years. I am good at what I do and many rely on me for support, including my family. I love them but sad to say I must love myself more because I need to be good to myself and provide myself with freedom. I do feel trapped and have for numerous years. I think of the increased likelihood statistically of another associated with me as some form of justification to remain in pain. You see the double edge sword; too much at times. Little fear in moving forward. I don’t see the point in much of this other than expressing my feelings in hope of some relief in going the clarity so important in rationale. They say one day at a time. It Flys so fast, and I often think that I should wait it out regardless how little I do make a difference. Overall thanks for listening guys.

  • To suicidal people I would suggest to learn about the workings of their minds. Learn to meditate and check extensively into NLP training. Happiness is really possible in this live. Whatever your background or dwellings.