Risk Assessment in Mental Health Practice: An Integrative Review

Although risk assessment in mental health practice can influence and measure treatment outcomes and level of care provision, risk assessment practices are not standardised and different screening tools are used. The aim of this integrative review was to review the literature on risk assessment in mental health practice to promote evidence-based care. Electronic databases were searched for articles available in English and published from 2013 to 2019. The findings from 12 articles evaluated the evidence for risk assessment tools utilised and discussed the justification, barriers and enabling factors for risk assessment. Lastly, recommendations were made to improve risk assessment.