Suicide is a huge public health problem. It is an act of voluntary and deliberate self-distruction. There are several classifications and terminologies that point out that suicidality implies a wide range of behaviors from self-harm, thoughts, plans, attempted and committed suicide. There are many misconceptions about suicidality that result in inadequate care for such patients. It is known that a year before the suicide, most people visited a doctor, as well as that patients in the emergency department often have pronounced risk factors for suicide. Therefore, there is awareness about the need for better staff education and the development of a universal screening for suicide. Risk assessment involves mostly a clinical interview in which the patient is directly asked about potential suicidality. It often involves the application of different methods and scales. The most commonly used scales are the Beck Hopelessness Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation, the Suicide Intent Scale and the SAD PERSONS Scale. However, they are not completely reliable in assessing the risk of suicidal behavior. New methods are being developed, including psychological and neurocognitive tests, as well as the assessment based on data from electronic medical records, which seeks to objectify assessment and obtain new tools that would successfully, though indirectly, assess an individual’s suicidal risk. A generally accepted method of assessment is still unknown. One should know that a properly conducted risk assessment has a therapeutic effect and that most suicides can be prevented.