NCISH evidence on suicide risk assessment in UK mental health services

Our evidence shows little consistency in the use of risk assessment tools in the UK, with most mental health trusts using locally developed tools. Most of these tools aim to predict and categorise self-harm or suicidal behaviour, against national guidance. In line with national guidance, risk assessment should not be seen to predict future behaviour and should not be used to allocate treatment.

• Read our report on the assessment of clinical risk in mental health services (2018) (PDF)
• Read our publication: Suicide risk assessment in UK mental health services: a national mixed methods study (The Lancet, 2020)
• Watch a discussion chaired by Dr Niall Boyce about our publication, Suicide risk assessment in UK mental health services: a national mixed-methods study (YouTube)
• Watch Philip Pirie speak about a relative’s perspective on risk stratification (part of Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust’s suicide prevention training) (YouTube)

For further resources, visit the NCISH clinical risk assessment report page.

This work was completed as part of the Culture of Care Programme. The work was supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GM PSRC) (Grant Reference Number NIHR204295). Leah Quinlivan is fully funded by the NIHR GM PSRC, Pauline Rivart was part funded by the NIHR GM PSRC, and Professor Nav Kapur is part funded by the NIHR GM PSRC.  The views expressed on this webpage are those of the authors and not necessarily those of NICE, NIHR, NHS, or the UK Department of Health and Social Care.