Which of the following is NOT a component of the "SAD PERSONS" scale?

The "SAD PERSONS" scale is a well-known tool used to assess the risk of suicide by evaluating several key risk factors. The acronym "SAD PERSONS" stands for:

• S: Sex (male)

• A: Age (teenagers or elderly)

• D: Depression

• P: Previous suicide attempts

• E: Ethanol use (alcohol)

• R: Rational thinking loss

• S: Social support loss

• O: Organized plan

• N: No spouse

• S: Sickness (chronic illness)

Among the components of the scale, "history of mental illness" is not explicitly represented in the acronym. While a history of mental illness is certainly a relevant factor associated with suicidal risk, it is not specifically listed as one of the indicators within the "SAD PERSONS" framework. Therefore, selecting history of mental illness as the answer is appropriate since it does not appear as a distinct element when identifying the risk of suicide according to this particular scale.

In contrast, the other options listed—rational thinking loss, previous suicide attempt, and social support loss—are all key components of the "SAD PERSONS" scale, making them critical factors in assessing suicidal risk. Each