Which assessment involves direct questioning about thoughts, plans, and intent?

• A. Suicide risk assessment
• B. Mood
• C. Suicidal ideation
• D. Broca aphasia

Answer: (A)

Direct questioning about thoughts, plans, and intent is the core of a suicide risk assessment. Asking these explicit questions helps distinguish between fleeting or passive thoughts of self-harm and an active plan with intent and means to act, which signals imminent risk and requires urgent safety steps. This approach yields crucial information to guide immediate actions like safety planning and appropriate urgent care or hospitalization if needed. Other concepts either focus on mood—emotional state without assessing concrete risk—or refer to suicidal thoughts in general without addressing whether there is a concrete plan or intent, and Broca aphasia is a language disorder unrelated to evaluating suicide risk. Asking direct questions such as, “Are you thinking of harming yourself? Do you have a plan? Do you intend to act soon?” is a practical way to determine the level of risk and necessary intervention.