Suicide risk assessment is a core clinical competency that should be conducted at intake, during crisis episodes, following significant life changes, and whenever warning signs are observed. The Columbia Protocol and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (2022) recommend a structured approach that evaluates current suicidal ideation, intent, plan, access to means, prior attempts, risk factors, and protective factors. This assessment tool provides a standardized format for documenting these domains. It is not a predictive instrument; no tool can reliably predict who will die by suicide. Rather, it supports thorough clinical reasoning, informs safety planning, and creates a defensible record of the clinician's decision-making process (Jobes, 2023; Stanley & Brown, 2022).