Implementing a personalised approach to risk

We are supporting mental health organisations to implement a personalised approach to suicide risk assessment. This is part of NHS England’s Culture Change Improvement Programme.  

We will be:  

• Providing expert advice to support mental health organisations to move away from using risk assessment scales and tools, and towards a personalised approach to risk.  
• Bringing together evidence and guidance specific to suicide risk assessment and management. 
• Promoting and sharing learning to help staff working in mental health services to understand the benefits of personalising risk assessment.  

On this page:

• Useful videos
• Examples of good practice
• Learning events
• Evidence and guidance

Useful videos

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Examples of good practice: adopting a personalised approach to risk

These infographics summarise work within mental health organisations to adopt a personalised approach to risk: why action was undertaken, what changes were made and what the outcomes were.

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Learning events

Our learning events will include contributions from:

• People with lived experience of being assessed for suicide risk.
• Experts in neurodiversity, learning disability, racial equity, trauma and quality improvement who are helping to deliver the Culture of Care programme.
• Organisations that have adopted a personalised approach to suicide risk assessment.

The learning events commence in October 2024. Recordings will be added here.

• 22 October 2024 – Carer involvement in self-harm and suicide prevention
• 17 December 2024 – Menstrual health, premenstrual dysmorphic disorder: self-harm and suicide prevention
• 11 February 2025 – The integrated motivational–volitional model of suicidal behaviour
• 8 April 2025 – Safer care, deconstructing ‘personality disorder’, and considerations for assessment
• 10 June 2025 – Safety plans for self-harm and suicide

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Evidence and guidance around personalised risk assessment

• Clinical guidelines on risk assessment 
• NCISH evidence on suicide risk assessment in UK mental health services 
• Risk assessment scales, categories and tools should not be used to predict suicide risk 
• The role of health professionals in assessing suicide risk 
• The importance of psychosocial assessment following self-harm 
• Prompt aftercare to psychological therapies following self-harm 
• Cost-effectiveness of psychosocial assessments 

Other evidence and perspectives on risk assessment

Many colleagues are engaged in wider work across the NHS with related online resources.

This NHS Futures webpage, for example, has a library of resources with information related to risk assessment and safety planning.