USE OF THE BECK SCALE AS A SUPPORT TOOL IN THE EVALUATION OF SUICIDAL IDEATION IN PSYCHIATRIC OUTPATIENT CLINICS

Abstract

Suicidal ideation is a serious public health problem, requiring effective strategies for its early detection, especially in psychiatric outpatient settings. This study aimed to analyze the applicability of the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS/BSSI) as an auxiliary tool in the assessment of suicidal ideation in patients treated in these services. Through an integrative literature review, studies published between 2015 and 2025 in the BVS, SciELO, PubMed and Google Scholar databases were selected. The analysis revealed that the BSSI is widely recognized for its psychometric validity and sensitivity to detect early signs of psychological distress, being useful in different populations, such as university students, public security professionals and adolescents. However, the importance of its use in conjunction with qualified clinical listening and broad care protocols is highlighted. Despite its accessible and low-cost format, limitations such as the lack of cultural validation and training of professionals still challenge its full implementation in public mental health services. It is concluded that the BSSI is a promising tool for tracking suicidal ideation, provided it is used with appropriate technical and ethical criteria.