Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC) Practice Exam

Upon screening for suicide potential, if a client shows a lethal plan, means, and opportunity, what is the best action?

1. Contact her family for support

2. Contact your supervisor for guidance

3. Call the police for protective custody

4. Begin a crisis intervention to ensure her safety

The correct answer is: Begin a crisis intervention to ensure her safety

When a client demonstrates a lethal plan, means, and opportunity during a suicide risk screening, initiating a crisis intervention is the best course of action. Crisis intervention focuses on ensuring the immediate safety of the client, which is paramount in this situation. This may involve assessing the level of risk in detail, creating a safety plan, and potentially involving other mental health professionals to provide immediate support. In such critical circumstances, it is essential to address the client's safety first and foremost. This could involve removing means that could be used to harm themselves or arranging for hospitalization if necessary to provide a more structured environment where they can be monitored and treated appropriately. While contacting family members, seeking supervisor guidance, or involving police may have their place in overall treatment planning or ongoing support, they do not address the immediate need for crisis management and ensuring that the client is safe in that moment. Prioritizing direct intervention in a crisis situation is vital so that the client feels supported and secure.