The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) is a clinician-administered questionnaire developed at Columbia University. It distinguishes ideation types (passive wish to be dead through active ideation with plan and intent) and tracks suicidal behaviors. It is widely used in clinical practice and FDA-regulated trials.

Is this tool a diagnosis or a clinical decision?

No. This helper is an educational aid that mirrors C-SSRS Screener logic. Only a licensed clinician can conduct a formal C-SSRS interview, interpret results in context, and make clinical decisions. Use this as a structured reference, not a substitute for professional judgment.

What should I do if someone indicates active ideation with plan or intent?

This constitutes a psychiatric emergency. Ensure immediate safety, do not leave the person alone, and engage emergency services or a crisis team. In the US, call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or call 911.

How does the C-SSRS differ from the PHQ-9 item 9?

PHQ-9 item 9 is a single passive screen. The C-SSRS elaborates suicidal ideation into five distinct categories and separately tracks four behavioral types, providing much finer clinical granularity for risk stratification.

Is my data stored anywhere?

No. All scoring and display happens in your browser. No answers are transmitted to any server.

Which version of the C-SSRS does this implement?

This implements the C-SSRS Screener (Lifetime/Recent) logic, the most common brief version used in clinical and research settings. The full C-SSRS administered by a trained clinician provides additional detail.

C-SSRS Helper

Walk through the C-SSRS ideation and behavior items to get an instant risk category and suggested clinical action.

Crisis resources: If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. For mental health crisis support in the US, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).

Section A — Suicidal Ideation

Past month. Answer each item Yes or No.

Section B — Suicidal Behavior

Past three months. Check all that apply.

Answer the items on the left and press Generate Risk Summary to see the result.

Summary

The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) is a validated, widely used instrument for assessing suicide ideation and behavior. This helper guides you through the Screener version — five ideation items and four behavior items — and maps your responses to a risk category with suggested clinical action. All data is processed entirely in your browser and is never transmitted anywhere.

How it works

Answer each ideation item with Yes or No to indicate presence over the past month.
If behavior items are applicable, mark which behaviors have occurred over the past three months.
The tool evaluates responses against C-SSRS scoring logic and assigns a risk category.
A risk summary (low, moderate, or high) appears with the highest endorsed ideation type and any behavior flags.
Suggested clinical action is shown based on the risk category.
No data is stored or transmitted — all scoring happens locally in your browser.

Use cases

Emergency department triage to quickly document suicide risk level.
Primary care annual wellness visits requiring standardized risk screening.
Mental health intake assessments before a first therapy session.
Crisis intervention settings needing a structured risk conversation guide.
Research studies collecting standardized suicidality data.
Training clinicians and students on C-SSRS item language and scoring logic.
Telehealth visits where a paper form cannot be handed to the patient.
Community health screenings offering anonymous mental health assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-14 · Reviewed by Nham Vu