Which of the following is an appropriate brief suicide risk screen in a crisis?

• A. Do you have a plan?
• B. Have you recently lost a loved one?
• C. Are you thinking about harming yourself right now?
• D. Do you use substances regularly?

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is quickly identifying immediate suicide risk in a crisis. Asking directly about current thoughts of self-harm is the most efficient way to gauge imminent danger. It directly taps into whether the person is experiencing active ideation right now, which signals whether urgent safety actions are needed, such as staying with the person, involving crisis services, or arranging immediate support. This direct, time-specific question reduces ambiguity and often yields the clearest indicator of risk in the moment.

The other prompts don’t provide the same quick read on current danger. Inquiring about having a plan suggests risk and is important to assess, but it doesn’t tell you if the person is actively thinking about self-harm right now. Asking about recent loss targets a risk factor or trigger rather than current intent. Asking about substance use likewise highlights a contributing factor, not the present level of danger. In a brief screen, you want the direct check of current thoughts to decide how immediately to intervene, and then you can explore additional factors as needed. If the person does indicate current thoughts of self-harm, respond with clear safety steps and support.