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Development of the National Suicide Prevention Outcomes Framework
The National Suicide Prevention Office is developing the National Suicide Prevention Outcomes Framework to define key outcomes relating to Suicide Prevention and how to measure whether progress against them is being made.
An outcomes framework to provide common direction, focused efforts and meaningful measurement
Outcomes are clear statements that define what long-term success looks like for people and communities. It will be used to drive collective effort towards achieving a common goal.
The framework will be comprised of three components: an outcomes map, a data improvement plan, and a monitoring and reporting plan.
The Outcomes Framework is critical to providing a collective approach to measuring outcomes that matter to people in suicide prevention
The measurement of progress in suicide prevention is currently focused on tracking trends in population-wide suicide rates and monitoring the implementation of suicide prevention activities. This leaves a significant gap in our understanding of the impact and effectiveness of the suicide prevention system.
The Outcomes Framework aims to measure success over time. It will introduce measurable outcomes that are person focused, providing greater insight into the pathways to suicide and the impact of prevention efforts. It will contribute to reducing suicidal distress, attempts and lives lost to suicide by enabling meaningful and transparent reporting of progress.
By listening to the lived experiences of people, we will receive insights that help us interpret the data and better understand what works and what doesn't work in suicide prevention. This will limit the possibility of misinterpretation and ensure our planning and policy decisions are well informed.
Alignment with the National Suicide Prevention Strategy
The Outcomes Framework will align with the direction of national efforts as set out in the National Suicide Prevention Strategy (the Strategy).The Strategy provides a model with actions to follow by governments, service providers and communities to reduce suicidal distress. The Outcomes Framework translates the model into people-centred outcomes, describing the impact we’re trying to achieve, and how to measure whether we are succeeding in reducing distress and lives lost to suicide.
Development process
The development of the Outcomes Framework is happening in close collaboration with key stakeholders and through targeted consultation. The NSPO is seeking input from people with a lived and living experience of suicide, communities that are disproportionately impacted by suicide, researchers, academics, policy makers, suicide prevention collectives, service providers, and data custodians.
The NSPO is also engaging with and across governments to gain input into the development process and ensure an aligned approach across portfolios and jurisdictions, as well as working closely with Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia.
The NSPO’s Advisory Board and Lived Experience Partnership group will oversee the development of the Outcomes Framework.
Current progress
The Outcomes Framework Document is being developed with people with a lived and living experience of suicide and key stakeholders from academia, government, and suicide prevention service providers.
The Outcomes Map is being designed with input from stakeholders and in collaboration with the NSPO Lived Experience Partnership Group. The NSPO is taking a person-centred approach to outcomes, focusing on the insights people share with us from their lived and living experience of suicide.
The NSPO has adopted a mixed methods approach to reporting, including sourcing existing and new quantitative and qualitative data. This will provide the foundations for the data improvement plan and the monitoring and reporting plan.
Intended timeline
The NSPO intends to publish a set of outcomes, indicators, and measures by mid-2026.
How to get involved
It is important that we hear from a broad range of people with diverse views to strengthen the Outcomes Framework. To register to be kept informed of the development of the Outcomes Framework and the work of the National Suicide Prevention Office please visit: National Suicide Prevention Office | Have Your Say - National Mental Health Commission
Development of the National Suicide Prevention Outcomes Framework
This document provides an overview of the development of the National Suicide Prevention Outcomes Framework.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
Defence Force & Veterans
Disability
LGBTQIA+
Lived experience
Suicide prevention
Acknowledgement of Country
The Commission acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands throughout Australia. We pay our respects to their clans, and to the elders, past and present, and acknowledge their continuing connection to land, sea and community.
Diversity
The Commission is committed to embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination in the provision of health services. The Commission welcomes all people irrespective of ethnicity, lifestyle choice, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Lived Experience
We acknowledge the individual and collective contributions of those with a lived and living experience of mental ill-health and suicide, and those who love, have loved and care for them. Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to mental health suicide prevention systems reform.
