TY - JOUR
AU - A. Alameddine
A1 - 
AB - ObjectiveTo evaluate the practice of using reported suicidal ideations (SI) as an important predictor of suicide and as a major indicator to decide the eligibility and priority of access to mental health services.FindingsExamples on the widespread use of SI in triage, screening, and management protocols of mental health presentations, both in emergency and community settings, are presented. Such widespread use comes in contrast to the evidence clearly indicating the limited utility of SI as a suicide predictor. SI limitations are expected when put in the larger context of the generalized failure of suicide prediction tools. The potential detrimental effects of an exaggerated SI status on several aspects of the clinical encounter are discussed. Finally, potential systemic downsides in humanitarian and resource-limited settings are hypothesized, such as hindering mental health integration into primary care, as well as over-reporting of SI by beneficiaries seeking aid and vulnerability status.ConclusionsSI still holds a "canonical" status as a risk indicator and triage guide. This exaggerated status, in addition to lacking evidence, can also lead to potential downsides, especially in overloaded health systems.
AD - Department of Psychiatry, Hotel-Dieu de France, Beirut, Lebanon. RINGGOLD: 36926
AN - 40077986
BT - Australas Psychiatry
C5 - General Literature
CP - 3
DA - Jun
DO - 10.1177/10398562251325720
DP - NLM
ET - 20250312
IS - 3
JF - Australas Psychiatry
LA - eng
N2 - ObjectiveTo evaluate the practice of using reported suicidal ideations (SI) as an important predictor of suicide and as a major indicator to decide the eligibility and priority of access to mental health services.FindingsExamples on the widespread use of SI in triage, screening, and management protocols of mental health presentations, both in emergency and community settings, are presented. Such widespread use comes in contrast to the evidence clearly indicating the limited utility of SI as a suicide predictor. SI limitations are expected when put in the larger context of the generalized failure of suicide prediction tools. The potential detrimental effects of an exaggerated SI status on several aspects of the clinical encounter are discussed. Finally, potential systemic downsides in humanitarian and resource-limited settings are hypothesized, such as hindering mental health integration into primary care, as well as over-reporting of SI by beneficiaries seeking aid and vulnerability status.ConclusionsSI still holds a "canonical" status as a risk indicator and triage guide. This exaggerated status, in addition to lacking evidence, can also lead to potential downsides, especially in overloaded health systems.
PY - 2025
SN - 1039-8562
SP - 352
EP - 355+
ST - It is time to dethrone suicidal ideations as a risk predictor
T1 - It is time to dethrone suicidal ideations as a risk predictor
T2 - Australas Psychiatry
TI - It is time to dethrone suicidal ideations as a risk predictor
U1 - General Literature
U3 - 10.1177/10398562251325720
VL - 33
VO - 1039-8562
Y1 - 2025
ER -