Mandated Psychological Assessments for Suicide Risk in a College Population: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of a protocol mandating psychological assessment of college students exhibiting specific signs of suicide risk and/or nonsuicidal self-harm. Thirty-seven current and former students who had been documented as at risk completed a structured interview in person or by phone. Outcomes suggest this protocol identifies students at risk for suicide, with 27% having made an attempt at some point in their lives and 50% having been suicidal at the time the report was written. The majority of participants endorsed the value of this intervention.

KEYWORDS:

• Assessment
• collaborative
• mandated
• prevention
• self-harm
• suicide

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Ellen Peters and Matthew Pickard for advice regarding data analysis and Lisa Ferrari for assistance in navigating the IRB approval process.

Funding

This research was partially supported by a grant from the University of Puget Sound.

Additional information

Funding

This research was partially supported by a grant from the University of Puget Sound.