Observational Scale of Suicide Risk in Adolescents: Design, Content Validation and Clinical Application

Early detection of suicidal risk in adolescents requires valid tools adapted to the clinical and educational context. However, there are currently no observational scales developed specifically for use by significant people in the adolescent’s environment. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to design, validate and apply to a pilot sample an observational scale to identify behavioural and emotional signs of suicidal risk in adolescents, from the perspective of adolescents, parents and teachers. Validation study of an Observational Adolescent Suicide Risk Scale (EORSA) based on a theoretical review and expert consensus. Content validity was evaluated through expert judgement by professionals with recognised experience in mental health, psychometrics, and suicide prevention. The scale was subsequently applied to a sample of adolescents, parents and teachers, analysing the mean scores per item in each group. The final scale included 19 items with a high level of agreement among experts (content validity index > 0.80). When applied to the pilot sample, significant differences were observed in the items considered most frequent by each group. The EORSA is a valid and potentially useful tool for identifying signs of suicidal risk in adolescents from an observational perspective. Its design and application allow for a contextualised and multidimensional assessment, favouring preventive interventions adapted to each setting.