A 15-year-old girl in the emergency department tells you, when seen alone, that for the past month she has oft…

Question

A 15-year-old girl in the emergency department tells you, when seen alone, that for the past month she has often thought she would be better off dead. She has not harmed herself. She is not intoxicated, has no psychotic symptoms, lives with both parents and has never seen a mental health clinician. You need to establish how immediate the danger is before deciding on her disposition tonight. Which one of the following questions is most important to ask next?

Accepted Answer

Have you decided how you would do it?

Answer

Do any of your friends harm themselves?

Answer

Have you ever been treated for depression?

Answer

How has your sleep been over that month?

Answer

What stops you from acting on these thoughts?

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