Suicide is problematic today, being one of the most potentially fatal psychological phenomena, so it is important to assess thinking about suicide or suicidal ideation.

In this study we aim to develop methodological procedures, in order to understand if the emotional stroop test for screening of suicide risk is a good measure of suicidal ideation.

A cross-sectional study was carried-out among a convenience sample of 100 subjects. The data collection was done using a socio-demographic questionnaire, the emotional stroop test for screening of suicide risk, the suicidal ideation questionnaire and the beck depression inventory.

Regarding the degree of association between the score of interference of the emotional stroop test and level of suicidal ideation there is a strong negative correlation and statistically significant. There are statistically significant differences in the scores on the three sheets of emotional stroop test between subjects with high suicidal ideation and low suicidal ideation. Attention is impaired in the group with suicidal ideation.

The emotional stroop test for screening of suicide risk is a useful, rapid and simple assessment tool that can to be used to detect symptoms of suicidal ideation.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.