- Multiple risk factors, few protective factors
- Suicidal ideation with plan, but no intent or behaviour
Recommendation for Medium Risk
Admission might be necessary depending on risk factors
In Canada, consider referring your patient to the following resources
In Ottawa, consider
- TOH mobile crisis team and community crisis bed program (613-241-8161 health professional line)
- Mental Health Crisis Line for Adults, 613-722-6914 (within Ottawa), 1-866-996-0991 (Champlain LHIN)
- Consider MCT beds
- In Ottawa, if you are with the Ottawa Hospital / Gruyere Academic Health Team, then consider a referral to the Shared Care Mental Health Team
Develop a crisis/safety plan
- This is a plan developed with the patient on how to deal with things in the event of a crisis and is developed ahead of time, during a time when the patient is calm and not overwhelmed
- It is developed together by the health professional and the patient, using the patient's own words and language.
- In this way, during times of crisis, the patient (as well as caring family, friends and professionals) can use the crisis plan in order to deal with the crisis.
- It includes key content such as signs of a crisis, coping strategies in a crisis, things which give hope and meaning
- Download Crisis Plans
Provide handout on coping with suicidal thoughts
Give the patient a list of local/national emergency information such as:
- Local emergency departments
- Local crisis lines
- Local mental health walk-in clinics
- Local mobile crisis teams
- Find your local crisis resources anywhere in Canada
Reference: Suicide Assessment Five-step Evaluation and Triage (SAFE-T).