The first area of suicide risk management is to identify people at risk through their contact with adults who can help identify distress.

IDAS Screening Process is a clinical tool aiming to support the professional at this step of the process. Several other useful clinical tools are offered in the document Identifying the person at risk – IDAS Screening Process.

Objectives of screening

The screening process aims to answer the following questions:

• Does the person have suicidal manifestations?
• What should I do to go further in my analysis of the suicide risk and the actions to be taken?

This step identifies the presence of suicidal ideation and danger in the very short term.

Observe: Sources of information and indicators of MAAS

The first step of the screening process consists in identifying the presence of MAAS in a person. The Table below offers clues to observe in a person to complete the screening process. This is a short version of a Table available in the document Identifying the person at risk – IDAS Screening Process.

The person’s behaviour and comments are the main source of relevant information, but it can be supplemented by observations, questions to practitioners or relatives, a reading of the user’s file, etc.

Decide: Decision resulting from the screening

The person has suicide-related manifestations (MAAS):

• Yes: Proceed with danger assessment to manage the suicidal episode [link]
• No: Implement interventions to reduce the person’s distress

Even in the absence of suicide-related manifestations (MAAS), it is important to intervene since the person was showing signs of distress. This distress must be explored, understood and acknowledge and an appropriate intervention must be made.

Act: Intervention when suicide-related manifestations (MAAS) are present

If the person displays suicide-related manifestations (MAAS), it is important to continue with a danger assessment and the managing of the suicidal episode.

The suicidal episode should be managed by a team of trained professionals.

The tool IDAS Screening Process consists of a clinical tool to support the professional during the screening process. Several other useful tools are presented in the document Identifying the person at risk.