“When caring for patients who demonstrate the potential to harm themselves or others, it is essential to put time and distance between the person and a lethal means that could propel that potential into action. Access to lethal means is a dynamic risk factor, and an individual's thinking about and behavior with their lethal means may influence our understanding and estimation of risk. Many of us, however, do not yet evaluate for lethal means, even among our highest-risk patients, such as those with suicidal ideation.”

Read the full piece from CEO, Dr. Christopher Barsotti, in AFFIRM’s standing article in Emergency Medicine News called “Standing AFFIRM.”