Free Online Test
Suicide Risk Screening (ASQ)
This is the ASQ, a four-question suicide risk screening tool developed by the National Institute of Mental Health. It is a screener, not a risk assessment: it indicates whether a fuller conversation with a professional is needed. If you are in crisis right now, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, free and 24/7.
- Questions
- 5
- Time
- ~1 min
- Instrument
- ASQ
- Cost
- Free
Anonymous and scored entirely in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent to us, saved, or stored anywhere. No email or sign-up required.
Before you begin
This screening asks directly about thoughts of suicide and self-harm. Please read this before continuing. This is a screening tool only - it cannot assess your safety, and there is no one monitoring your answers. If you are having thoughts of hurting yourself right now, please stop and call or text 988 instead of taking this. If you choose to continue, crisis resources stay on screen throughout.
What this measures
Whether a fuller suicide risk assessment is warranted. Time frame: recent weeks.
This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. It can tell you how your answers compare to established ranges. It cannot tell you what is causing them, whether something else explains them, or what you should do next. Only a licensed clinician can do that, in a conversation.
Please check the box above to continue.
0 of 5 answered
Recent weeks
Please answer honestly. Your answers are not saved, not sent anywhere, and not seen by anyone.
Answer every question to see your result.
Your result
0
Screening result
This screen is not scored as a total. Any yes answer indicates that a fuller conversation with a professional is warranted.
What this result is not
This is a screening score, not a diagnosis, and not medical advice. It reflects how you answered today. It cannot account for your history, your circumstances, a medical condition, a medication, or anything else that might explain these answers. If the result matches what you have been experiencing, the useful next step is a conversation with a licensed professional - not a second test.
Your score is not saved. Leaving or refreshing this page clears it.
About the ASQ
The ASQ was developed by researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health as a brief screening tool for emergency departments, clinics, and primary care. It is in the public domain, validated for both adults and youth, and approved by The Joint Commission for use across all ages.
It is a screener, which means it answers exactly one question: does this person need a fuller conversation about safety? It does not assess risk, predict anything, or diagnose. That assessment requires a trained person, in a conversation, in real time.
That distinction matters especially here. A screening tool on a webpage cannot tell whether you are safe. It cannot ask a follow-up question, cannot hear how you sound, and cannot help. Only a person can do those things, and there are people available at any hour.
If you have been carrying thoughts like these, the most important thing on this page is not the result. It is the 988 number. Reaching out is not an overreaction, and you do not have to be in danger to use it.
Suicide Risk Screen questions
What should I do if I answered yes to any question?
Talk to someone. That can be a therapist, your doctor, or the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which you can call or text free at any hour. A yes answer does not mean you are in danger right now, but it does mean this deserves a real conversation rather than being carried alone.
Is this screening confidential?
Yes, completely. Your answers are processed in your browser and never leave your device. Nothing is transmitted, saved, or stored by us, and no one is notified. That also means no one is monitoring this page - if you need a response, please contact 988 or a clinician directly.
Does a positive screen mean I am suicidal?
No. The ASQ deliberately errs toward catching people rather than missing them, so a positive result is common and does not mean you are in danger. It means a professional should ask more questions than a webpage can. Passive thoughts about death are far more common than most people realize, and they are treatable.
What happens when a clinician uses this screen?
In a clinical setting, a positive screen leads to a brief safety assessment: a conversation about what the thoughts are like, how often they come, what makes them better or worse, and what supports are available. It is a conversation, not an interrogation, and it typically takes a few minutes.
Can therapy help with thoughts like these?
Yes. Thoughts of suicide are a symptom, and like other symptoms they respond to treatment. Many people who have carried these thoughts for a long time find they lift as the underlying condition is treated. Reaching out early is better, but it is never too late.
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Instrument and attribution
Asking Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) toolkit, developed by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). As a work of the United States federal government, the ASQ is in the public domain and free to use without permission.
- Horowitz, L. M., et al. Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) Toolkit. National Institute of Mental Health.
Reviewed by the MindView Therapy Team · July 30, 2026
A score is a starting point, not an answer
If something on this page matched what you have been feeling, talk it through with a licensed therapist. We respond within one business day.