The Nurses' Global Assessment of Suicide Risk (NGASR): developing a tool for clinical practice

Area of Science:

• Mental Health
• Nursing
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Individuals with mental health conditions exhibit elevated suicide risk compared to the general population.
• Suicide risk assessment necessitates a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach integrating personal, interpersonal, and social factors.
• Clinical judgment is paramount in thorough suicide risk evaluations, particularly for inexperienced staff.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and describe the development of the Nurses' Global Assessment of Suicide Risk (NGASR) tool.
• To provide a structured assessment tool that supports novice practitioners in evaluating suicide risk.
• To outline the evidence base and practice development context for the NGASR tool.

Main Methods:

• Development and description of the Nurses' Global Assessment of Suicide Risk (NGASR) tool.
• Review of literature and evidence underpinning the tool's construction.
• Inclusion of preliminary validation and rating attempts in practice.

Main Results:

• The NGASR tool has been developed to assist nurses in assessing suicide risk.
• The tool is based on key evidence and addresses the need for structured assessment in practice.
• Preliminary practice-based evaluations suggest the NGASR is a useful template, especially for novice nurses.

Conclusions:

• The NGASR tool offers a valuable framework for nursing-led suicide risk assessment, particularly for less experienced staff.
• While awaiting large-scale quantitative validation, the NGASR can guide suicide risk evaluation.
• Effective suicide risk assessment requires a combination of tools, clinical judgment, and comprehensive evaluation.