Screening for signs of suicide risk factors in teens and adults isn’t beneficial without a history of mental illness or disorder.
 
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) – an independent medical panel that serves as a research arm for HHS, which often adopts its recommendations – found that existing research doesn’t support broad-stroke suicide screenings.
 
"We all would like to find ways to prevent the suffering of those who commit or attempt suicide, as well as the families and communities they may leave behind,” said David Grossman, M.D., USPTF panel member in an April 23 news release. “Unfortunately, at this time we don't know if asking everyone who visits their doctor or nurse about their risk factors for suicide leads to fewer suicides and suicide attempts."
 
However, doctors should still perform depression screenings for teens and adults as they’re more effective when paired with treatment, USPSTF said.
 
“We are not addressing the needs of people who show symptoms of depression or certain other mental health conditions and may be at higher risk,” Grossman said. In those cases, “having clinicians ask about suicidal thoughts should be part of managing their disease.”
 
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