Suicidal Motivation Scale Test

In about 7 minutes, it clarifies the motives shaping an adolescent’s suicidal thoughts and mood after warning signs or attempts. With 35 items, it quantifies key drivers to guide focused, timely care plans.

Start Online Test

Questions: 357 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

16,915 views

1,759 completions

1,455 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

11/15

Heteropunitive (H)

Measures the extent to which self-destructive thoughts or actions are motivated by a wish to punish or affect others through one’s own harm.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 5: Low | 6 – 10: Moderate | 11 – 15: High

A score of 11 falls in the High range, suggesting a pronounced tendency for self-destructive impulses to be linked with outwardly directed anger or a desire to impact others.

example score

5/15

Self-Punitive (SP)

Measures the degree to which suicidal motivation is driven by self-blame, guilt, and a desire for self-punishment.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 5: Low | 6 – 10: Moderate | 11 – 15: High

A score of 5 falls in the Low range, suggesting self-punitive motives are present but not a dominant driver compared with other possible motives.

example score

10/15

Anesthetic (A)

Measures the extent to which suicidal thoughts are driven by a wish to escape unbearable physical or emotional pain.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 5: Low | 6 – 10: Moderate | 11 – 15: High

A score of 10 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable tendency to view suicidal actions as a way to reduce intense suffering, without this motive being at the highest level.

example score

2/15

Post-Vital (PV)

Measures the extent to which suicidal thoughts are driven by beliefs or expectations of improvement, relief, or positive change after death.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 5: Low | 6 – 10: Moderate | 11 – 15: High

A score of 2 falls in the Low range, suggesting post-vital beliefs or hopes about relief or improvement after death are not a prominent motive here.

example score

10/15

Instrumental (I)

Measures the extent to which suicidal thoughts or actions are used as a tool to influence or manipulate others’ reactions.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 5: Low | 6 – 10: Moderate | 11 – 15: High

A score of 10 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting instrumental motives are fairly pronounced and may sometimes be used to elicit attention or specific responses from others.

example score

5/15

Anomic (A)

Measures the degree to which suicidal motivation is linked to feelings of meaninglessness, inner emptiness, and loss of life direction.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 5: Low | 6 – 10: Moderate | 11 – 15: High

A score of 5 falls in the Low range, suggesting anomic themes like emptiness or loss of meaning are present but not dominant in the motivational profile.

example score

8/15

Altruistic (A)

Measures the extent to which suicidal thoughts are motivated by self-sacrifice intended to help, protect, or relieve others.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 5: Low | 6 – 10: Moderate | 11 – 15: High

A score of 8 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not dominant tendency to view self-harm as a way to benefit or save others.

Start Online Test

just completed the test

DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Clinicians treating at-risk teens

46%OF USERS

Psychologists and psychiatrists use it with adolescents who have attempted suicide or show clear suicidal behavior to clarify the motives driving it and plan support.

Crisis and hospital teams

33%OF USERS

Staff in emergency, inpatient, and crisis settings apply it during follow-up after an incident to understand what fueled the attempt and what may prevent повторение.

Counselors in schools and youth centers

21%OF USERS

School psychologists and youth counselors use it with identified high-risk students to map motivational factors behind suicidal thoughts and tailor interventions.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

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.

Heteropunitive (H)

Average

9.6

Normal range

6.9 — 12.3

min.

max.

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.

Autopunitive (A)

Average

8.6

Normal range

6.6 — 10.5

min.

max.

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.

Anesthetic (A)

Average

9.6

Normal range

6.9 — 12.2

min.

max.

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.

Postvital (P)

Average

9.7

Normal range

7.5 — 11.8

min.

max.

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.

Instrumental (I)

Average

7.6

Normal range

4.9 — 10.3

min.

max.

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.

Anomic (A)

Average

7.1

Normal range

4.5 — 9.8

min.

max.

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.

Altruistic (A)

Average

4.8

Normal range

2.8 — 6.7

min.

max.

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.

Start Online Test

Featured On

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

Please respond to each statement using one of the following four response options: 1) “Yes” — if you fully agree with the statement. 2) “Partly” — if the statement does not fully reflect your experiences. 3) “Unsure” — if you are not certain whether the statement applies to you. 4) “No” — if you are confident that the statement does not reflect your experiences.

- Yes
- Partly
- Unsure
- No
- Yes
- Partly
- Unsure
- No
- Yes
- Partly
- Unsure
- No

These are 3 of the 35 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

Start Online Test

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Suicidal Motivation Scale Test - Symptoms and Signs

suicidal risk

This measure is used to assess self-reported motivations associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The Suicidal Motivation Scale is intended for use in clinical contexts to clarify salient motivational themes that may inform case formulation and treatment planning.

The instrument includes 35 items and typically takes about 7 minutes to complete. Respondents rate their level of agreement with a series of statements, yielding quantitative indices of motivational domains relevant to suicidality. Interpretation should be conducted by a qualified clinician and integrated with interview data and other risk assessment information. The Suicidal Motivation Scale is not designed as a stand-alone diagnostic tool or as a population screening measure. (Edwin S. Shneidman.)

Author: Edwin S. Shneidman

Literature: Joiner, T. Why people die by suicide. Harvard University Press. 2005.