This is such a critical topic, not just for the UKMLA AKT, but for your future clinical practice. Suicide risk assessment can feel daunting, but having a structured framework makes it much more manageable and ensures you don't miss anything vital.

I'll start by pulling up some high-yield lessons that cover the core psychiatric assessment and risk management principles.

When you're assessing risk, it's helpful to categorize factors into static (things that can't change, like past history) and dynamic (things that can change, like current mood or substance use).

NICE guidelines (NG225) emphasize that we shouldn't just "score" someone as low, medium, or high risk, because those labels aren't great at predicting the future. Instead, we focus on a comprehensive clinical interview that explores:

• Ideation: Are they thinking about it? How often?
• Intent: Do they actually want to end their life?
• Plan: Have they thought about how they would do it?
• Access: Do they have the means (e.g., stockpiled meds)?

Let me find a visual guide that outlines this structured assessment process for you.