The purpose of this article is to approach topics in suicide risk assessment from a scientifically informed standpoint. We summarize and elaborate a general framework for an empirically supported best practice recommendation in evaluating suicide potential and minimizing risk. This risk assessment framework provides a concise heuristic for assessment of suicidal symptoms, points the way to relatively routinized clinical decision‐making and activity, and is compatible with best practices relevant to the legalities of suicide risk assessment. Having established a general and scientifically based framework for risk assessment, we go on to address the other questions noted above, with reference to the framework and to our ongoing scientific work. We conclude by summarizing all the work and providing clear and concise clinical recommendations based thereon. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.