Evaluation of suicide prevention activities

5.6 Geographical reach of projects

Page last updated: January 2014

As shown in Table 5-4, locally oriented projects accounted for the largest proportion (56%) of projects, state-wide projects made up 14%, and projects with a national reach made up the remaining 30% of projects.

Analysis of the geographical descriptions provided by project representatives indicated a more complex reach than Table 5-4 would suggest. For example:

  • Four projects identified as local were found to operate in one or more other states. Their activities within these other states were, however, confined to small/local areas.
  • One local project also had a national component.
  • One local project contributed to international suicide prevention efforts.
The implications of this complex geographical reach within Australia are discussed in more detail in the subsequent chapters of this report.

The approach taken by projects differed according to geographical reach, as shown in Table 5-5.

As indicated, locally oriented projects (28) mainly used selective (23) and indicated (15) approaches, with selective being the most commonly cited of the two approaches.

Projects with state-wide reach (7) tended to use selective approaches (7). As would be expected, the national projects (15) were largely characterised by universal approaches (11).

    Table 5-4: Geographical reach of projects

    Region
    Projects
    %
    Local
    28
    56
    State-wide
    7
    14
    National
    15
    30
    Total
    50
    100

    Table 5-5: Geographical reach of project, by approach

    Region
    Universal
    Selective
    Indicated
    Total
    Local
    8
    23
    15
    28
    State-wide
    2
    7
    2
    7
    National
    11
    6
    2
    15
    Total
    21
    36
    19
    50