The acceptability of screening for suicide risk among youth in outpatient medical settings: Child and parent perspectives

Abstract

Objective

Psychosocial providers in medical settings are increasingly being asked to identify suicide risk in youth with medical illnesses. This pilot study aimed to determine the acceptability of suicide risk screening among youth with cancer and other serious illnesses and their parents.

Methods

Youth ages 8–21 years presenting to an outpatient medical setting were screened for suicide risk using a modified version of the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) screening tool. Patient and parent perceptions of acceptability were collected.

Findings

The sample included 32 patient/parent dyads. The overall positive screen rate was 9.4% (n = 3/32). Most patients (75%; n = 24/32) and parents (84.4%; n = 27/32) reported that medical settings should screen young patients for suicide risk.

Conclusions

Suicide risk screening was acceptable to most patients and parents in a pediatric clinic.

Implications for Psychosocial Providers

Medically ill patients are at risk for suicide. Universal suicide risk screening using a validated measure can provide meaningful clinical information to patients’ families and providers and has the potential to save young lives.

Keywords:

• cancer
• family
• pediatric
• screening
• suicide

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the patients and their parents for participation in this study.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Financial disclosure

The authors have no financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose.

Funding source

This work was funded (in part) by the Intramural Programs of the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Mental Health. (ZIAMH002922-11).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mary V. Tipton

Mary V. Tipton conducted data analyses, wrote the first draft of the manuscript, and made revisions to the final draft of the manuscript.

Marina N. F. Arruda-Colli

Marina N. F. Arruda-Colli participated in data collection, conceptualized the initial sub-analysis, and provided revisions to the manuscript.

Sima Zadeh Bedoya

Sima Zadeh Bedoya contributed to conceptualizing the study, collected data, and reviewed the manuscript.

Maryland Pao

Maryland Pao conceptualized and designed the study, provided study supervision, and provided critical review and revision of the manuscript.

Lori Wiener

Lori Wiener conceptualized and designed the study, provided study supervision, collected data, and provided critical review and revision of the manuscript.