Brief Reasons for Living Inventory for Adolescents (BRFL-A) Test

Understand what keeps you choosing life in hard moments in about 6 minutes. This 32 item check-in pinpoints your key supports and values to guide care and strengthen coping.
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Questions326 minutes
Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.
08:30
October 2, 2025
October 2, 2025
Material has been updated
22,095 views
2,373 completions
1,930 likes
Verified by Daniel Hall
Psychologist with 25 years of experience
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How the Scales are Structured

example score
5/6
Family Alliance (FA)
Measures how strongly family bonds, values, and family-based coping serve as a protective reason for living.
Low family support
High family support
13.82Low family support3.836High family support
A score of 5 indicates that family relationships and shared values are a strong, accessible source of support and anti-suicidal motivation for you.
example score
3/6
Fear of Suicide (FoS)
Measures the degree of negative emotional activation and fear response when suicidal thoughts or images arise.
Lower fear response
Higher fear response
14.18Lower fear response4.196Higher fear response
A score of 3 falls in the Lower fear response range, suggesting relatively less emotional fear activation in response to suicidal thoughts or images.
example score
4/6
Optimistic Future (OF)
Measures interest in life, a positive self-attitude, and optimism and planning regarding the future.
Low
Moderate to high
13.95Low3.966Moderate to high
A score of 4 indicates a moderate-to-high level of optimistic future orientation, suggesting generally positive expectations and some future planning as reasons for living.
example score
4/6
Self-Acceptance (SA)
Measures the degree of self-acceptance and positive self-regard at the present moment.
Low
Moderate
13.36Low3.376Moderate
A score of 4 indicates a moderate level of self-acceptance and generally positive self-regard right now.
example score
3/6
Friend Support (FS)
This scale reflects the extent to which acceptance and support from friends serve as a coping resource when suicidal thoughts or distress arise.
Low support
High support
13.54Low support3.556High support
A score of 3 indicates relatively low perceived support from friends as a protective resource in difficult moments.
example score
5/6
Life Affirmation (LA)
Assesses overall affirmation of life, reflecting a general absence of suicidal motives and low suicidal mood in adolescents.
Low life affirmation
High life affirmation
13.42Low life affirmation3.436High life affirmation
A score of 5 falls in the High life affirmation range, indicating generally strong reasons for living and a low presence of suicidal motives on this scale.
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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Teens feeling overwhelmed
41%OF USERS
Adolescents dealing with intense stress, sadness, or hopelessness use it to identify what still keeps them connected to life.
Therapy and crisis clients
34%OF USERS
People already seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist take it to clarify protective factors and guide a safety and support plan.
Concerned family supporters
25%OF USERS
Parents or close relatives encourage someone at risk to complete it to better understand what sources of support matter most.
BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.
RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly
Your scores across each test scale are translated into plain, usable insights. You won’t just get numbers — you’ll learn how your results impact your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.
AI-Powered
Interpretation
You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.
Statistical
Comparison
See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.
Practical
Recommendations
You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.
AI-Powered
Insights
Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.
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an AI Therapist
Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.
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Used in 52+ countries
Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.
Family Union (FU)
Average
3.9
Normal range
3.24.7
min.
1
max.
6
Majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Fear of Suicide (FoS)
Average
2.6
Normal range
1.93.2
min.
1
max.
6
Majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Optimistic future (Of)
Average
2.4
Normal range
1.73.1
min.
1
max.
6
Majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Self-Acceptance (S)
Average
3
Normal range
2.23.8
min.
1
max.
6
Majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Support from friends (Sff)
Average
4.1
Normal range
3.44.7
min.
1
max.
6
Majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Affirmation of Life (AoL)
Average
4.2
Normal range
3.45
min.
1
max.
6
Majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?
It assesses reasons a person may choose to stay alive during periods of distress. It identifies protective beliefs, values, relationships, and concerns that can reduce risk.
Who is this questionnaire intended for?
It is intended for adolescents and adults who can read and respond to self-report items. It may be used in clinical evaluation or research settings.
How long does it take and how many items are included?
It contains 32 items and usually takes about 6 minutes to complete. Most people can finish it in one sitting.
How should responses be completed?
Select the response option that best reflects the current level of agreement with each statement. Answer all items based on typical thoughts and feelings rather than a single event.
Does this questionnaire provide a diagnosis or replace urgent support?
It does not provide a diagnosis and does not replace a clinical assessment. If there is immediate risk of self-harm, urgent professional or emergency support is required.
WHAT THE TEST MEASURES
About This Assessment
Reasons for Living, BRFL-A Test

Brief Reasons for Living Inventory for Adolescents (BRFL-A) Test - Symptoms and Signs

This self-report measure assesses adolescents’ perceived reasons for continuing to live, with attention to protective beliefs, perceived responsibilities, and other factors that may buffer against suicidal thoughts and behavior. The Brief Reasons for Living Inventory for Adolescents (BRFL-A) is typically used as an adjunct to suicide risk assessment and case formulation rather than as a stand-alone indicator of risk.

The measure contains 32 items and generally takes about 6 minutes to complete. Results are commonly interpreted in conjunction with clinical interview data and other relevant measures to help identify salient protective factors and guide treatment planning.

In clinical and research settings, the Brief Reasons for Living Inventory for Adolescents (BRFL-A) can support discussion of coping resources, supports, and future-oriented motivations, and may help clinicians target interventions toward strengthening identified protective domains.

Author: marsha-m-linehan
Literature: Linehan, M. M., Goodstein, J. L., Nielsen, S. L., & Chiles, J. A. Reasons for staying alive when you are thinking of killing yourself: the reasons for living inventory. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 1983.; Osman, A., Downs, W. R., Kopper, B. A., Barrios, F. X., Baker, M. T., & Osman, J. R. The reasons for living inventory for adolescents (RFL-A): development and psychometric properties. Journal of Clinical Psychology. 1996.; Joiner, T. E. Why people die by suicide. Harvard University Press. 2005.
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