The NSPP-funded activities spanned the three major suicide prevention approaches: universal, selective and indicated. Universal approaches can be applied to a whole population or community; selective approaches can be applied to a sub-group known to be at increased risk while indicated measures target individuals who are at high risk.36
As shown in the following Table 5-1, selective approaches were the most common approach reported, with 72% of projects identifying this approach.
Many projects adopted multiple approaches, as illustrated in the following Figure 5-2:
- Four (8%) of the 50 projects adopted all three approaches
- Eighteen (7+11), ie, 36% adopted two approaches
- Twenty-eight (4+10+14), ie, 56% adopted a single approach.
Table 5-1: Project approach (n=50)
Approach | Projects | % |
|---|---|---|
| Universal | 21 | 42 |
| Selective | 36 | 72 |
| Indicated | 19 | 38 |
Figure 5-2: Overlap of project approaches (n=50)
Text version of figure 5-2
10 projects adopted only a universal approach.14 projects adopted only a selective approach.
4 projects adopted only an indicated approach.
7 projects adopted both universal and selective approaches.
11 projects adopted both selective and indicated approaches.
4 projects adopted all three approaches - universal, selective and indicated.