A patient recently lost all his or her possessions in a fire a month ago. Which assessment data suggests that hospitalization should be considered?

• A. The patient is sleeping well and eating normally.
• B. The patient denies thoughts of self-harm.
• C. States, "The fire made my life so hopeless."
• D. The patient reports feeling hopeful about recovery.

Answer: (C)

When assessing safety after a disaster, hopelessness signals potential risk for self-harm and the need to consider inpatient care to protect the person and ensure a safety plan is in place. The statement that the fire made life feel hopeless reflects despair about the future and can be a warning sign of suicidality, which warrants close evaluation and possible hospitalization for safety and stabilization. In contrast, sleeping well and eating normally suggests adequate functioning, denying thoughts of self-harm indicates lower immediate risk, and feeling hopeful about recovery points to resilience. Therefore, the expression of hopelessness is the data that most strongly indicates hospitalization should be considered.