Caring for Adult Patients with Suicide Risk: A Consensus Guide for Emergency Departments

This guide is designed to assist Emergency Department (ED) health care professionals with decisions about the care and discharge of patients with suicide risk. Its main goal is to improve patient outcomes after discharge. The guide helps ED caregivers answer these questions:

  • How can I effectively intervene while this patient is in the ED? 
  • Can this patient be discharged or is further evaluation needed?
  • What will make this patient safer after leaving the ED?
Full Guide

Quick Guide

All clinical information provided in this guide is meant to complement, not replace, provider judgment.

Questions about this guide? Contact Adam Chu, Senior Project Associate, Health and Behavioral Health Initiatives.

About the Guide

This guide was developed with extensive input and guidance from a Consensus Panel of experts from emergency medicine and suicide prevention organizations including people with lived experience.

For more information about the Consensus Panel process, please contact Adam Chu, Senior Project Associate, Health and Behavioral Health Initiatives.

Related Resources

View the ED Guide press release.