An easily learned scale utilizing a brief acronym (SAD PERSONS), and based on ten major risk factors, is presented for assessing likelihood of a suicide attempt. A group of medical students who were taught SAD PERSONS demonstrated a significantly greater ability to accurately evaluate and make recommendations for disposition of a low-risk and a high-risk patient, as judged by three experienced psychiatrists. Conversely, a control group of students, who were not instructed in use of the scale, rated both patients at a higher risk for suicide, and made dispositions accordingly. SAD PERSONS has a positive influence on performance in evaluating suicidal patients.