Suicide Screening, Evaluation, and Management: A Trauma-Informed Approach for Primary Care

Suicidality, defined as suicidal ideation and suicidal behaviors, is unfortunately common. As many as 1 in 5 adolescents report having had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year, and suicide is a leading cause of mortality among adolescents. Guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend universal screening for suicide risk in primary care, and evidence suggests that clinicians can take an active role in assessment and management of youth who are suicidal. Although trauma exposure and traumatic stress are potent risk factors for suicidality in adolescents, a trauma-informed approach is not well integrated into tools used for suicide detection, risk stratification, and safety planning. This article will provide clinical guidance on adopting a trauma-informed approach to suicide prevention in the primary care setting.