Suicide Risk Assessment: Midterm Exam (Units 1-7) -
Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. An aborted (self-interrupted) suicide attempt is clinically important because it:
A. Indicates the person took steps toward an attempt and stopped, which signals elevated risk
B. Shows the person was never serious
C. Means the person is no longer at risk
D. Should not be documented
Correct Answer: A. Indicates the person took steps toward an attempt and stopped, which
signals elevated risk
Rationale: Taking steps toward an attempt, even if the person changes their mind, reflects capability and
intent and is linked to future attempts. It should be documented and explored, including what helped the
person stop, which can inform safety planning. Dismissing it as not serious is a dangerous error.
2. Suicide is considered largely preventable because:
A. It is entirely genetic
B. Many risk factors are modifiable and effective interventions exist at individual and community
levels
C. It cannot be predicted at all, so nothing can be done
D. It only affects people with no access to care
Correct Answer: B. Many risk factors are modifiable and effective interventions exist at
individual and community levels
Rationale: Treating mental illness, reducing access to lethal means, strengthening connections, and
improving follow-up care all reduce suicide. Although individual prediction is imperfect, prevention
strategies lower population risk. It is not purely genetic or limited to people without care.
3. Regarding suicide notes, research shows that:
A. Most people who die by suicide do not leave a note
B. Nearly everyone leaves a note
C. Notes are required to classify a death as suicide
D. Notes always explain the cause clearly
Correct Answer: A. Most people who die by suicide do not leave a note
Rationale: Only a minority of decedents leave a note, so the absence of a note does not mean a death
was not a suicide, and notes rarely explain the full picture. Medical examiners use multiple sources to
classify deaths. Families often struggle with unanswered questions.
,4. Preparatory behavior for suicide includes:
A. Talking about the future with hope
B. Acts such as acquiring means, writing a suicide note, or giving away possessions
C. Starting a new hobby
D. Attending therapy appointments
Correct Answer: B. Acts such as acquiring means, writing a suicide note, or giving away
possessions
Rationale: Preparation shows movement from thought toward action and is a warning sign that raises
urgency of assessment. Collecting means, putting affairs in order or saying goodbye are examples.
Future-oriented activities and treatment engagement are generally protective.
5. A common myth is that people who talk about suicide will not act on it. The evidence shows
that:
A. Talking about suicide always means low risk
B. People who talk about it are only seeking attention
C. Verbal statements have no relationship to risk
D. Many people who die by suicide communicated their intent or distress beforehand
Correct Answer: D. Many people who die by suicide communicated their intent or distress
beforehand
Rationale: Statements of wanting to die or being a burden are recognized warning signs, and many
decedents told someone before their death. Every such statement deserves a respectful assessment.
Labeling it attention-seeking can delay lifesaving help.
6. More than half of US suicide deaths involve which means, making it a key focus of lethal
means safety?
A. Medication overdose
B. Motor vehicles
C. Firearms
D. Drowning
Correct Answer: C. Firearms
Rationale: Firearms are involved in over 50% of suicides because attempts with them are very often fatal,
leaving little chance for rescue or reconsideration. This is why safe storage and temporary removal of
firearms during a crisis are central to prevention. Other means account for smaller shares of deaths.
,7. Suicide is best understood as resulting from:
A. A single cause such as a breakup
B. A complex interaction of biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors
C. Weakness of character
D. Only genetics
Correct Answer: B. A complex interaction of biological, psychological, social, and
environmental factors
Rationale: Most suicides involve multiple interacting risk factors and triggers rather than one cause,
which is why prevention addresses several levels. Simplistic single-cause explanations, often seen in
media, can be harmful. Suicide is not a moral failing.
8. Economic factors associated with increased suicide risk include:
A. Stable employment
B. Job loss, financial strain, and housing instability
C. Access to health insurance
D. Steady income
Correct Answer: B. Job loss, financial strain, and housing instability
Rationale: Unemployment, debt and eviction are stressors linked to suicide, and economic downturns are
associated with increased rates. Policies that strengthen economic supports are part of CDC's prevention
strategy. Stable employment and insurance are protective.
9. The ideation-to-action framework emphasizes that:
A. All people with ideation will attempt
B. Most people with suicidal ideation do not attempt, so assessment must consider factors that move
a person from thought to action
C. Ideation is not clinically important
D. Only demographic factors matter
Correct Answer: B. Most people with suicidal ideation do not attempt, so assessment must
consider factors that move a person from thought to action
Rationale: Frameworks such as the three-step theory and integrated motivational-volitional model
distinguish the development of ideation from the progression to attempts, highlighting factors like access
to means, capability and impulsivity. Ideation remains important, but it is not inevitable that it leads to
action.
, 10. The period with the highest suicide risk after an inpatient psychiatric hospitalization is:
A. Exactly one year after discharge
B. Only during the hospital stay
C. After 10 years
D. The first weeks after discharge, particularly the first week
Correct Answer: D. The first weeks after discharge, particularly the first week
Rationale: Research shows suicide rates are dramatically elevated immediately after discharge, so
follow-up within 7 days, safety planning and caring contacts are critical. Risk persists but is highest early.
Inpatient suicides occur but are less common.
11. A person's suicide risk is described as dynamic because it:
A. Never changes after age 18
B. Can change quickly with circumstances, symptoms, and stressors
C. Depends only on genetics
D. Is fixed after a single assessment
Correct Answer: B. Can change quickly with circumstances, symptoms, and stressors
Rationale: Risk fluctuates with events such as relationship loss, intoxication, discharge from a hospital or
worsening symptoms, so assessment must be repeated at key transitions. A single assessment reflects
only that moment. Static risk factors do not change, but overall risk does.
12. The concept of a suicidal crisis being transient supports which prevention strategy?
A. Waiting until the crisis passes without intervention
B. Encouraging isolation
C. Avoiding follow-up
D. Delaying access to lethal means during the crisis period
Correct Answer: D. Delaying access to lethal means during the crisis period
Rationale: Many suicidal crises are brief, and studies show that a substantial share of attempts occur with
little planning, so putting time and distance between the person and lethal means can save lives. Waiting
without intervention, isolation and avoiding follow-up increase risk.
Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. An aborted (self-interrupted) suicide attempt is clinically important because it:
A. Indicates the person took steps toward an attempt and stopped, which signals elevated risk
B. Shows the person was never serious
C. Means the person is no longer at risk
D. Should not be documented
Correct Answer: A. Indicates the person took steps toward an attempt and stopped, which
signals elevated risk
Rationale: Taking steps toward an attempt, even if the person changes their mind, reflects capability and
intent and is linked to future attempts. It should be documented and explored, including what helped the
person stop, which can inform safety planning. Dismissing it as not serious is a dangerous error.
2. Suicide is considered largely preventable because:
A. It is entirely genetic
B. Many risk factors are modifiable and effective interventions exist at individual and community
levels
C. It cannot be predicted at all, so nothing can be done
D. It only affects people with no access to care
Correct Answer: B. Many risk factors are modifiable and effective interventions exist at
individual and community levels
Rationale: Treating mental illness, reducing access to lethal means, strengthening connections, and
improving follow-up care all reduce suicide. Although individual prediction is imperfect, prevention
strategies lower population risk. It is not purely genetic or limited to people without care.
3. Regarding suicide notes, research shows that:
A. Most people who die by suicide do not leave a note
B. Nearly everyone leaves a note
C. Notes are required to classify a death as suicide
D. Notes always explain the cause clearly
Correct Answer: A. Most people who die by suicide do not leave a note
Rationale: Only a minority of decedents leave a note, so the absence of a note does not mean a death
was not a suicide, and notes rarely explain the full picture. Medical examiners use multiple sources to
classify deaths. Families often struggle with unanswered questions.
,4. Preparatory behavior for suicide includes:
A. Talking about the future with hope
B. Acts such as acquiring means, writing a suicide note, or giving away possessions
C. Starting a new hobby
D. Attending therapy appointments
Correct Answer: B. Acts such as acquiring means, writing a suicide note, or giving away
possessions
Rationale: Preparation shows movement from thought toward action and is a warning sign that raises
urgency of assessment. Collecting means, putting affairs in order or saying goodbye are examples.
Future-oriented activities and treatment engagement are generally protective.
5. A common myth is that people who talk about suicide will not act on it. The evidence shows
that:
A. Talking about suicide always means low risk
B. People who talk about it are only seeking attention
C. Verbal statements have no relationship to risk
D. Many people who die by suicide communicated their intent or distress beforehand
Correct Answer: D. Many people who die by suicide communicated their intent or distress
beforehand
Rationale: Statements of wanting to die or being a burden are recognized warning signs, and many
decedents told someone before their death. Every such statement deserves a respectful assessment.
Labeling it attention-seeking can delay lifesaving help.
6. More than half of US suicide deaths involve which means, making it a key focus of lethal
means safety?
A. Medication overdose
B. Motor vehicles
C. Firearms
D. Drowning
Correct Answer: C. Firearms
Rationale: Firearms are involved in over 50% of suicides because attempts with them are very often fatal,
leaving little chance for rescue or reconsideration. This is why safe storage and temporary removal of
firearms during a crisis are central to prevention. Other means account for smaller shares of deaths.
,7. Suicide is best understood as resulting from:
A. A single cause such as a breakup
B. A complex interaction of biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors
C. Weakness of character
D. Only genetics
Correct Answer: B. A complex interaction of biological, psychological, social, and
environmental factors
Rationale: Most suicides involve multiple interacting risk factors and triggers rather than one cause,
which is why prevention addresses several levels. Simplistic single-cause explanations, often seen in
media, can be harmful. Suicide is not a moral failing.
8. Economic factors associated with increased suicide risk include:
A. Stable employment
B. Job loss, financial strain, and housing instability
C. Access to health insurance
D. Steady income
Correct Answer: B. Job loss, financial strain, and housing instability
Rationale: Unemployment, debt and eviction are stressors linked to suicide, and economic downturns are
associated with increased rates. Policies that strengthen economic supports are part of CDC's prevention
strategy. Stable employment and insurance are protective.
9. The ideation-to-action framework emphasizes that:
A. All people with ideation will attempt
B. Most people with suicidal ideation do not attempt, so assessment must consider factors that move
a person from thought to action
C. Ideation is not clinically important
D. Only demographic factors matter
Correct Answer: B. Most people with suicidal ideation do not attempt, so assessment must
consider factors that move a person from thought to action
Rationale: Frameworks such as the three-step theory and integrated motivational-volitional model
distinguish the development of ideation from the progression to attempts, highlighting factors like access
to means, capability and impulsivity. Ideation remains important, but it is not inevitable that it leads to
action.
, 10. The period with the highest suicide risk after an inpatient psychiatric hospitalization is:
A. Exactly one year after discharge
B. Only during the hospital stay
C. After 10 years
D. The first weeks after discharge, particularly the first week
Correct Answer: D. The first weeks after discharge, particularly the first week
Rationale: Research shows suicide rates are dramatically elevated immediately after discharge, so
follow-up within 7 days, safety planning and caring contacts are critical. Risk persists but is highest early.
Inpatient suicides occur but are less common.
11. A person's suicide risk is described as dynamic because it:
A. Never changes after age 18
B. Can change quickly with circumstances, symptoms, and stressors
C. Depends only on genetics
D. Is fixed after a single assessment
Correct Answer: B. Can change quickly with circumstances, symptoms, and stressors
Rationale: Risk fluctuates with events such as relationship loss, intoxication, discharge from a hospital or
worsening symptoms, so assessment must be repeated at key transitions. A single assessment reflects
only that moment. Static risk factors do not change, but overall risk does.
12. The concept of a suicidal crisis being transient supports which prevention strategy?
A. Waiting until the crisis passes without intervention
B. Encouraging isolation
C. Avoiding follow-up
D. Delaying access to lethal means during the crisis period
Correct Answer: D. Delaying access to lethal means during the crisis period
Rationale: Many suicidal crises are brief, and studies show that a substantial share of attempts occur with
little planning, so putting time and distance between the person and lethal means can save lives. Waiting
without intervention, isolation and avoiding follow-up increase risk.
