Low mood after a relationship breakdown
AMC Clinical practice station
Mental health · 2 min to read · 8 min to perform
Try a real conversation · AMC ClinicalAI practice
Take a focused history, assess his risk of harming himself, and discuss a plan with him.
Lachlan BarkerG'day doctor. I'm not sure why I'm here, really. My sister made me book it.
Free · no sign-up · uses your one free station
Open the full station (charts, voice, result letter) →The task
You are a doctor in a general practice. Mr Lachlan Barker, aged 33, has booked a long appointment because he has been feeling low for some weeks. He has come alone. Take a focused history, assess his risk of harming himself, and discuss a plan with him. There is no need to examine him. The examiner will not take part in the conversation.
What this station tests
- Ask about suicide directly, then plan, intent and means; asking does not cause harm.
- Weigh protective factors, but do not let them override a plan with available means.
- Same-day specialist assessment and not leaving the patient alone are the safe response to high risk.
- Safety planning includes means restriction, a trusted person with consent and crisis contacts such as Lifeline and 000.
- Explain the legal framework in general terms and address fear of hospital with honesty.
Sources for the clinical content
- Department of Health and Aged Care: Mental health and suicide prevention
- Lifeline Australia
- Beyond Blue: Suicide prevention
- Medical Board of Australia: Good medical practice, a code of conduct for doctors in Australia
An original practice scenario with invented patients. Not an exam question.