The Process of Suicide Risk Assessment: Twelve Core Principles

Suicide risk assessment requires counselors to determine client risk factors, warning signs, and protective factors. The content of suicide assessment has received attention in the literature. The guiding principles of the process of suicide assessment, however, have not yet been articulated. This article contains 12 core process principles that highlight the broader overarching philosophical tenets that guide suicide risk assessment. The principles serve as a complement to the current focus on content in suicide assessment.