Which of the following are suicide risk factors found in the SAFE-T?

• A. Biological markers
• B. Stable housing
• C. Hopelessness & Discharge from care
• D. Good social support

Answer: (C)

In SAFE-T, recognizing patterns that raise suicide risk includes both cognitive-state risk signs and treatment-related vulnerabilities. Hopelessness is a key cognitive risk factor—when someone feels there is no future or possibility for improvement, the risk of acting on suicidal thoughts increases. Discharge from care represents a loss of ongoing support, treatment, and crisis planning, which can leave a person more vulnerable during a fragile period. Together, they capture both a mental state that elevates risk and a change in care continuity that can worsen it, making the combination the best reflection of risk in SAFE-T. By contrast, biological markers aren’t part of SAFE-T’s risk-factor framework, and stable housing or good social support are typically protective factors that help reduce risk rather than indicate it.