How to Identify Suicidal People: A Step-By-Step Assessment System

In an effort to help practitioners with the daunting task of evaluating suicide risk potential in their patients - a misdiagnosis can very well mean death - Dr. Thomas White, a clinical psychologist with over 35 years of experience in suicide assessment, has developed an entirely novel method, an actual system, of conducting effective suicide risk assessments that are clinically sound, professionally responsible and legally defensible. This is the first attempt ever to simplify and organize the suicide risk assessment process into a logical, structured format with practical and specific step-by-step instructions that can be followed from the beginning of the assessment to the end. Embracing a multidimensional, biopsychosocial approach, the system addresses all of the risk factors and clinical techniques that make up a thorough and insightful risk assessment.

Because assessments that follow this system are driven by objective data about the client that are based on well-researched risk factors, clinicians will feel confident that they have based their determinations of risk on information that is accepted by most professionals (and courts) instead of on their own personal assumptions and theories. An important and pioneering addition to the scant literature on suicide risk assessment, this new system will make the task of identifying suicide potential more accurate, reliable and safe.

Thomas White, PhD, is a psychologist with than 35 years of experience in the field of correctional mental health. Currently in independent clinical practice, Dr. White provides consultation, training and correctional litigation support services on jail and prison suicide. His workshops on suicide risk management and clinical assessment have been presented to hundreds of mental health professionals and correctional administrators throughout the US and internationally and his consultation and training services have been used by more than 20 percent of US state departments of correction, several federal institutions and many county jail facilities.

Prior to entering private practice, Dr. White had a long and distinguished career at the Federal Bureau of Prisons where he held a variety of positions including Chief Psychologist at several facilities (most notably, the United States Penitentiary at Leavenworth) and Coordinator of the Bureau of Prisons Suicide Prevention Program. While there, Dr. White was responsible for a wide range of clinical activities including the oversight of the psychology and drug treatment programs in 18 federal prisons programs that served the needs of over 22,000 inmates provided by 70 doctoral-level psychologists and more than 75 specialized treatment staff policy development, program oversight, specialized correctional training and supervision, individual and group therapy.