Mnemonic for Assessing suicidal attempts
PPM PAIN HRU
- Precipitating factors e.g. stress, divorce, death
- Planning of suicide act
- Method used e.g. overdose, hanging
- Precaution against discovery e.g. locked doors, driven far away
- Alone – were they alone or were people nearby?
- Intoxication e.g. alcohol or other substances
- Note – was a suicide note left?
- Help sought afterwards? Who phoned ambulance – patient/relative/friend?
- Regret about the act?
- Understanding – what did he understand by the attempt e.g. did he think 20 tablets would end his life?
Other pointers:
- Always ask about symptoms of depression/psychosis
- Will they be returning home to the same situation?
- What are his thoughts about the future?
- Any suicide thoughts still ongoing i.e. are they still actively suicidal after an attempt?
