Improving confidence in suicide risk assessment

Suicide risk assessment is a complex task for mental health professionals. Attendance at mandatory training programmes designed to equip staff with the skills to undertake suicide risk assessments can be helpful in ensuring staff understand theoretical aspects. In reality, more support in practice is also required. To address this, we introduced a system of reflective peer review. This has helped staff to reflect on their risk assessments, consider the knowledge and information that has informed their risk management plans and discuss this with their peers in a supportive environment. This process has improved staff skills, confidence and documentation.