As part of suicide prevention, environmental checks should include which action?

• A. Cleaning schedules
• B. Locking all doors
• C. Removing hazards that could be used for self-harm
• D. Installing new cameras

Answer: (C)

Environmental checks aim to reduce risk by removing anything in the surroundings that a person could use to harm themselves. Removing hazards that could be used for self-harm directly lowers the opportunity for an attempt, making the area safer as staff monitor and intervene. This means checking cells, corridors, and common areas for items like belts, cords, shoelaces, broken glass, or other objects that could be fashioned into a means of self-harm, and removing or securing them. The goal is to eliminate access to those means, not just to monitor or schedule routines.

Cleaning schedules, while important for overall hygiene and upkeep, don’t specifically eliminate self-harm opportunities. Locking all doors may impede mobility or response in emergencies and doesn’t address the underlying risk in the environment. Installing cameras helps with monitoring but doesn’t remove the means or prevent access to potential hazards. The most effective action during environmental checks is to remove hazards that could be used for self-harm.