Emergency department assessment of suicidal patients.

Despite advances in the treatment of depression and increasing awareness of mental illness, suicide remains a significant public health problem. Individuals presenting to the emergency department with suicidal ideation are uniquely challenging to assess and treat because prediction of this lethal act is not yet possible. Clinicians need to take careful histories along with their direct exam in order to identify patients with true suicidal intent. Safety issues and medico-legal concerns are addressed as well as critical aspects of the suicidal ideation.