Evaluation of suicide prevention activities

4.7 Desktop review of ATAPS Suicide Prevention service initiative and MindMatters initiative evaluations

Page last updated: January 2014

To help inform the discussion of where the NSPP fits in the context of Australia's overall approach to suicide prevention, AHA was asked to undertake a desktop review of published evaluation reports for the ATAPS Suicide Prevention service initiative and the MindMatters initiative. Note that the extent to which conclusions could be drawn regarding the appropriateness, effectiveness and efficiency of both programs was limited by the extent to which these areas were addressed within the original evaluation reports (see section 11.3 and section 11.4).

4.7.1 ATAPS Suicide Prevention service initiative

Published evaluation reports (conducted by the Centre for Health Policy, Programs and Economics (CHPPE) at the University of Melbourne) were reviewed to consider the appropriateness, effectiveness and efficiency of the Program from the commencement of the pilot program in 2008.

4.7.2 MindMatters

The assessment of the MindMatters initiative was based on evaluation reports published from 2006 to 2012, with reference to several journal articles published in the peer-reviewed literature and some supplemental information provided by Principals Australia Institute (which administers the MindMatters initiative). The reports available focused on awareness, reach and uptake of the program, and as such, it was not possible to address the questions relating to effectiveness or efficiency.