5.5 LIFE Action Areas

Activities under the six LIFE Action Areas were explored from two perspectives. Project representatives were asked to:

• Identify which of the six LIFE Action Areas applied to their project
• Assess their progress toward achieving each of the individual LIFE Framework Action Area Outcomes.

Sixteen (32%) of the 50 projects reported that they addressed all six LIFE Action Areas. As shown in Table 5-3, all LIFE Action Areas were well represented among the 50 projects.
Four Action Areas were addressed by 70% or more of the projects, as follows:

• 3. Improving community strength, resilience and capacity in suicide prevention (90%)
• 2. Building individual resilience and the capacity for self-help (82%)
• 5. Providing targeted suicide prevention activities (78%)
• 4. Taking a coordinated approach to suicide prevention (70%)

Project representatives were also asked to assess their progress toward achieving each of the individual LIFE Framework Action Area Outcomes, thus facilitating a more refined assessment of achievements across each of the 19 outcome areas that make up the six LIFE Action Areas (see Section 3.3.1).

Assessment of progress was ranked using a five-point Likert style scale, with 1 indicating 'not achieved' and 5 indicating 'fully achieved'. A 'not applicable' option was also provided.

The results of this assessment are summarised in Figure 5-3.

As shown in Figure 5-3, there was relatively little variation in average achievement score across the 19 LIFE Action Area Outcomes. The average outcome score per area ranged from 3.41 to 4.06, with the exception of one outlier. As a rating of five indicates fully achieved and a rating of one indicates not achieved, project representatives mostly self-reported their achievements at the top end of the scale.

One notable outlier was for outcome 5.2 (Systematic, long term, structural interventions), for which an average score of 3.06 was reported.

Table 5-3: Project coverage of LIFE Action Areas

LIFE Action Area	n = 50	%
1. Improving the evidence base and understanding of suicide prevention	29	58%
2. Building individual resilience and the capacity for self-help	41	82%
3. Improving community strength, resilience and capacity in suicide prevention	45	90%
4. Taking a coordinated approach to suicide prevention	35	70%
5. Providing targeted suicide prevention activities	39	78%
6. Implementing standards and quality in suicide prevention	26	52%

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Figure 5-3: Progress towards achieving LIFE Action Area Outcomes: average score per outcome

Note: The wording for each Action Area Outcome is abbreviated – see Table 3-2 for a complete description.

Text version of figure 5-3

Life action area outcomes	Average extent of achievement
1.1 Understanding of imminent risk	3.68
1.2 Understanding of community risk and protective factors	3.78
1.3 Application and development of evidence base	3.65
1.4 Improved access to resources and information	4.02
2.1 Improved individual resilience and wellbeing	4.02
2.2 Environment that encourages help-seeking	4.06
3.1 Improved community strength and resilience	3.95
3.2 Increased community awareness	3.87
3.3 Improved capability to respond	3.71
4.1 Local services linking effectively	3.54
4.2 Program and policy coordination and cooperation	3.74
4.3 Regionally integrated approaches	3.42
5.1 Improved access to support and care for people feeling suicidal	3.71
5.2 Systemic, long-term, structural interventions	3.06
5.3 Reduced incidence of suicide and suicidal behaviour	3.41
5.4 Improved understanding, skills and capacity	3.91
6.1 Improved practice, national standards and shared learning	3.43
6.2 Improved capabilities in evaluation	3.43
6.3 Systemic improvements regarding information	3.51

Note: The wording for each Action Area Outcome is abbreviated – see Table 3-2 for a complete description.