Which level of suicide lethality corresponds to a client with clear intent, a coherent plan, and access to lethal means, yet who expresses a desire for help or has support in the area?

• A. Moderate
• B. Moderate-high
• C. High
• D. Low

Answer: (A)

Evaluating suicidality involves balancing risk indicators with protective factors. Clear intent and a coherent plan with access to lethal means show strong risk that the person could act. But when there is a desire for help or there is support in place, those protective factors reduce the immediacy and severity of the risk. In this scenario, that protective factor mitigates what would otherwise be a higher level of lethality, placing it in the moderate range. Without the protective factor, the level would tend toward high; with it, the risk sits at moderate.