Does asking children about suicide increase the risk of suicidal thoughts?

A recent study involving young people aged 8 to 12 concludes that assessing suicide risk is not associated with an increase in suicidal thoughts.

There is a justified concern about whether asking young people about suicidal thoughts could facilitate the onset of such thoughts, exacerbate existing suicidal ideation, or trigger unwanted emotional or psychological consequences. This issue is particularly relevant in a context where suicide rates among children under the age of 12 have steadily increased over the past decade.

Screening and intervention strategies in child and adolescent mental health must be designed and implemented on a rigorous scientific basis, taking into account the context in which they are applied. Under the ethical principle of primum non nocere (“first, do no harm”), it is recognized that even well-intentioned initiatives may have unintended negative effects.

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry aimed to determine whether the repeated use of suicide risk screening questionnaires could have iatrogenic effects, that is, harm caused by the assessment process itself.

To this end, Dr. Laura Hennefield and her team followed 192 preadolescents in the United States over a 12-month period. Throughout the study, they assessed both children with no prior history of suicidal thoughts or behaviors and those considered at higher risk due to previous history. After analyzing the survey data collected during the study, the researchers found no evidence that regularly asking about suicidal ideation increased risk or worsened the condition of the assessed children.

In this regard, the study’s findings provide evidence that may help guide prevention strategies. The results suggest that suicide risk assessment in children and preadolescents, when conducted with appropriate tools and within supervised contexts, does not appear to trigger or intensify suicidal ideation. This reinforces the value of early detection as part of an evidence-based preventive approach in child and adolescent mental health.

Main reference:

Hennefield, L., Luking, K. R., Tillman, R., Barch, D. M., Luby, J. L., & Thompson, R. J. (2025). Asking preadolescents about suicide is not associated with increased suicidal thoughts. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 65(1), 34–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2025.03.025

Additional references:

Martínez, V. (2023). The importance of scientific evidence in school-based mental health interventions. Estudios Públicos, 171, 125–135.
https://doi.org/10.38178/07183089/2132230128

PSICOLAB Studio 🫂🌎 Podcast de psicología. (2025, July 3). 1x19 SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR 🗣️ Let’s talk about it. Without fear. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM36T2tXrH8