| name | mental-health-safety |
| description | Safety screening and crisis detection — review PHQ-9 item 9, suicide risk, crisis flags, and generate safety assessments with recommended actions. |
| version | 0.1.0 |
| author | hermes-mental-health |
| license | MIT |
| metadata | {"hermes":{"tags":["mental-health","safety","suicide-risk","crisis","screening"],"category":"mental-health","related_skills":["mental-health-core","mental-health-assessment-review"]}} |
Mental Health Safety
When to use
Use when the practitioner needs to:
- Review PHQ-9 item 9 (self-harm) responses
- Screen for suicide risk indicators (SI)
- Screen for homicide/violence risk indicators (HI)
- Check for crisis-level severity scores
- Generate a safety assessment with recommended actions
- Document safety check timestamps
Safety indicators
PHQ-9 item 9
"Thoughts that you would be better off dead or of hurting yourself in some way"
| Score | Risk level | Action required |
|---|
| 0 | None | Document; no further action |
| 1 | Low | Assess further; document in notes |
| 2 | Moderate | Urgent clinical attention; safety plan |
| 3 | High | Immediate intervention; do not leave alone |
Crisis-level severity
- PHQ-9 total >= 20 → Severe depression; assess safety
- PCL-5 >= 33 + intrusion cluster high → PTSD with possible crisis
- Any mention of SI/HI in free-text fields → flag for review
Safety plan components
- Warning signs — thoughts, images, situations that trigger crisis
- Internal coping strategies — things patient can do without contacting others
- Social contacts — people and places that provide distraction
- Family/friends to contact — trusted people who can help
- Professionals/agencies — clinicians, crisis lines, emergency contacts
- Making the environment safe — removing lethal means
Safety assessment format
## Evaluación de Seguridad — [Patient ID]
### Indicadores
- PHQ-9 Item 9: [score] — [risk level]
- Severidad actual: [band]
- Banderas de crisis: [list or "Ninguna detectada"]
### Plan de seguridad
[structured safety plan in English]
### Recomendaciones
[clinical recommendations]
### Verificado por
[timestamp + practitioner identifier]
Crisis resources (US)
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988
- Crisis Text Line — Text HOME to 741741
- Emergency — Call 911
IMPORTANT: This is a screening tool, not a substitute for clinical judgment.
If there is ANY concern about imminent risk, activate emergency protocols immediately.
