Foundations of Suicidology Flashcards
7 cards from real AAS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Foundations of Suicidology flashcards as text
Which of the following statements about suicide notes is accurate?
Answer: Approximately 25-30% of suicide decedents leave a note
Research consistently shows that only about 25-30% of individuals who die by suicide leave a note, contradicting the popular assumption that most do.
According to AAS ethical guidelines, a clinician treating a suicidal patient should prioritize:
Answer: Beneficence and non-maleficence, which may override confidentiality in imminent risk
Ethical practice in suicidology holds that beneficence and non-maleficence can justify breaching confidentiality when there is imminent risk to life.
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the United States replaced which previous service?
Answer: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255)
The 988 dialing code was implemented in July 2022 as a simpler access point to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network.
In risk assessment, 'proximal' risk factors differ from 'distal' risk factors in that proximal factors are:
Answer: Present in the near-term and more directly precipitate suicidal behavior
Proximal risk factors are immediate, situational triggers close in time to a suicidal act, while distal factors are more stable background vulnerabilities.
Which of the following groups has shown a significantly increasing suicide rate in recent years, reversing historical trends?
Answer: Black youth and adolescents
Suicide rates among Black youth, particularly children and adolescents, have increased substantially in recent years, representing a significant public health concern.
The Safety Planning Intervention (SPI), developed by Stanley and Brown, differs from a traditional no-suicide contract primarily because it:
Answer: Focuses on coping strategies and reasons for living rather than a promise not to act
The Safety Planning Intervention is an evidence-based tool that collaboratively identifies warning signs, coping strategies, and social supports, avoiding the ineffective 'no-suicide contract' approach.
What does the term 'lethality' refer to in the context of suicide risk assessment?
Answer: The medical severity or deadliness of the method used or planned
Lethality refers to the objective medical danger or deadliness of the suicide method, independent of the patient's intent or subjective distress.