In Episode 28: Veterans & Suicide our guest, Brent Arnspiger, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Suicide Prevention Coordinator for the VA in Houston, spoke about preventing Veteran suicides by using a screener. The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale Screener (C-SSRS) is a proven way to recognize suicide risk. This screener can be life-saving and has been adopted by various groups.
What is the Columbia Screener?
The C-SSRS is a series of questions that can be administered to anyone and has more than 20 years of research behind it. It only takes a few minutes to complete and uses simple, plain-language questions. Importantly, you do not have to be a mental health professional to use it. The C-SSRS is a great option to use in a variety of places, for example, by police officers during a welfare check or at schools. The screener is available in more than 140 languages. This tool is effective with people of all ages including teens and children. There is no cost for the screener and free on-line training is available at https://cssrs.columbia.edu/.
How does it work?
The answers to the screener questions help recognize suicide risk. The C-SSRS assesses the severity and immediacy of that risk, and it gauges the level of support that the person needs.
Users of the C-SSRS ask a person when and if they have:
- Thought about suicide
- Taken actions to prepare for suicide
- Attempted suicide in the past
- Voluntarily stopped a suicide attempt or if the attempt was interrupted by someone else
Specialized Versions if C-SSRS
C-SSRS is very popular, and many groups have developed specialized versions of the screener with specific graphics and smaller sizes making them easy to carry around and use. ACE (Ask, Care, Escort) cards have been designed for each branch of the military, for example. Veterans Affairs uses this screener with Vets, and, similarly, C-SSRS cards are available for police, fire, EMS, school, and healthcare settings.
In Closing…
Recognizing the signs of suicide in our community members is a critical step in preventing the risk of suicide. The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale Screener is a proven tool in identifying those who may be in need of intervention. It’s free, uses straight-forward language, and is widely employed by many organizations. Training on the use of the screener is easily accessible online and even those without a background in mental health can use this vital resource.