Turning a suicide risk assessment into clear goals and objectives
Instructions
Practice shaping what a suicide risk assessment surfaces into an initial treatment plan. Open the definitions any time you want them.
1
Read where things stand and Jamie's SSF Section A.
2
Build two problems, each with clear goals, objectives, and interventions.
3
When you are done, save your plan as a PDF.
SSF Section A (Jamie's ratings, 1 to 5)
Psychological Pain
4 / 5
What I find most painful is feeling like I'm failing my kids. They need a parent who has it together, and most days I'm barely holding on.
Stress
4 / 5
What I find most stressful is carrying all of it by myself, the kids, the job, the bills, with no one to hand any of it to.
Agitation
3 / 5
I most need to take action when the house finally goes quiet at night and everything I'm behind on starts crowding in.
Hopelessness
4 / 5
I am most hopeless about whether life is ever going to feel any lighter than it does right now.
Self-Hate
3 / 5
What I hate most about myself is that I've shut everyone out and let down the people who were trying to be there for me.
Before you plan: the four parts
Not sure how problem, goal, objective, and intervention differ? Open this.
Problem description
The specific concern you are working on, stated plainly. It usually comes straight from what the assessment surfaced, a driver or a Section A area.
Example: Social isolation. Jamie has pulled away from the people who could support her.
Goal
The broad outcome you are aiming for. Where you want things to land. A goal is usually not measurable on its own.
Example: Jamie no longer faces things alone and has people she can lean on.
Objective
The concrete, measurable, time-bound step that shows you are moving toward the goal. How you will know it is working.
Example: Within four weeks, Jamie reaches out to one trusted person at least once a week.
Intervention
What you and Jamie actually do to get there: the sessions, skills, and actions.
Example: Weekly sessions; identify one specific person to contact; practice what to say; problem-solve what gets in the way.
A simple way to keep them straight: the problem is what is wrong, the goal is where you want to get to, the objective is the measurable step that proves you are getting there, and the intervention is what you do to make it happen.
The treatment plan
Worked example, already done for you
Problem 1: Acute safety risk, with suicidal thoughts worst at night.
Goal: Jamie stays safe and the immediate crisis settles.
Objective: Jamie uses the stabilization plan in high-risk moments over the next two weeks.
Intervention: Stabilization plan; weekly CAMS sessions; follow-up this week.
Duration: Ongoing, reviewed weekly.
Problem 2
Driver Jamie namedBeing on my own with all of it. I've stopped letting anyone in, and nobody really knows how bad it's gotten.
Build a problem, goal, objective, and intervention that respond to this driver.
Problem description
Goal
Objective(s)
Intervention(s)
Duration
Problem 3
Driver Jamie namedFeeling like I'm letting my kids down. They deserve better than what I can give them right now.
Build a problem, goal, objective, and intervention that respond to this driver.
Problem description
Goal
Objective(s)
Intervention(s)
Duration
Optional: AI plan check
When you have drafted your two problems, this sends what you wrote to an AI language model (OpenAI) and returns brief feedback on whether each piece is a problem, goal, objective, or intervention, and whether it connects to the driver. It does not write the plan for you. It is optional, your work is not saved, and you can skip it and still complete and save your plan.
A Socialworky training resource. This is a fictional practice scenario for educational use. Please use only fictional or composite details.