Question
Does universal screening prevent suicide?
Answer
Does universal screening actually prevent suicide in the general population? We know it is important for patients that have a psychiatric history, but is it important for the general population?
In primary care, you are working with the general population, some have mental health histories, some do not. My clinical opinion is it is always best to check that box and make sure you are addressing that because you would be surprised at what people will tell you.
You might go along in a visit with somebody and there is no hint of depression or history of depression; nothing like that comes up. But, suddenly you ask those questions (universal screening) and you get a whole history from that patient. So, I think universal screening is a beneficial suicide prevention tool.
This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the webinar, Suicide in Primary Care: Screening, Assessment, and Intervention, presented by Lauren Dennelly, MSW, LCSW
