Evaluation of suicide prevention activities

6.5 Group level activities

Page last updated: January 2014

Group level activities are examined in this section under the following headings:

6.5.1 Number of group activities

In the six month period (October 2012 to March 2013), a total of 2,425 group activities were recorded.

While the number of group activities recorded per month ranged from 230 to 546 (Table 6-22), more than 444 group activities occurred each month, with the exception of the December and January periods.

    Table 6-22: Group activities by month

    Collection period
    No. of
    activities
    %
    October 2012
    450
    18.6
    November 2012
    444
    18.3
    December 2012
    230
    9.5
    January 2013
    286
    11.8
    February 2013
    469
    19.3
    March 2013
    546
    22.5
    Total
    2,425
    100.0

Key findings

Over the six month period from October 2012 to March 2013, a total of 2,425 group activities were reported.
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    6.5.2 Activity type

    Group activities included a range of activity types (Table 6-23). The five activity types that accounted for the greatest number of group activities were:
  • Direct service delivery (22.4%)
  • Service promotion (15.1%)
  • Community engagement and/or community development (13.9%)
  • Training (11.9%)
  • Information development and/or provision (10.6%).

Table 6-23: Group activity by activity type

Activity type
No.
%
Direct service delivery
533
22.4
Service integration
176
7.4
Service promotion
360
15.1
Community engagement and/or community development
331
13.9
Evaluation
47
2.0
Research
58
2.4
Training
284
11.9
Sector development
195
8.2
Information development and/or provision
253
10.6
Community awareness
143
6.0
Total
2,380
100.0

    Note: Information was not available for 45 (1.9%) of the 2,425 group activities.

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    6.5.3 Mode of delivery for group activities

    The range of modes through which group activities were delivered is identified in Table 6-24. Meetings (37.3%), presentations (12.9%) and workshops (11.5%) were the most frequently reported modes of delivery.

    Table 6-24: Group activity by mode of delivery

    Activity mode
    No.
    %
    Workshops
    268
    11.5
    Meetings
    869
    37.3
    Presentations
    301
    12.9
    Training
    183
    7.9
    Consultation events
    176
    7.6
    Community events
    206
    8.8
    Clinical/counselling
    43
    1.8
    Desk-based work
    128
    5.5
    Other
    154
    6.6
    Total
    2,328
    100.0

    Note: Information was not available for 97 (4.0%) of the 2,425 group activities.

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    6.5.4 Number of people engaged

    The number of people reportedly engaged in group activities varied considerably (Table 6-25). More than one-third (36.2%) of groups engaged one to five persons. Cumulatively, 71.8% of group activities engaged 15 people or less. Group sizes included in the ‘over 100’ category ranged from 102 to 6.2 million.
This diversity in group size reflects that group activities ranged from small, community-based opportunities for people to come together to large scale national events such as RUOK day. This range of activities included the universal, selective and indicated approaches that are recommended in the LIFE Framework.

The number of people engaged needs to be interpreted with caution. In some cases, the figures reported represent precise numbers of group attendees. In other cases, the potential reach of the group activity is reported. These figures should therefore be taken as indicative only.

Cross-tabulation of group size by group purpose provides further insight into the possible reach of group activities (Table 6-26). In several cases, group size may mask the true potential reach of the activity. This is particularly true in the case of groups where the main purpose was training, community awareness or sector development. While the majority (74.2%) of training was delivered to groups of 20 or less, the reach of such training exceeds the number of people trained. Likewise, groups of over 100 whose primary purpose was community awareness (20.6%) or sector development (7.4%) may have a larger than reported reach.

    Table 6-25: Group activity by number of people engaged

    People
    Activities
    %
    1-5
    785
    36.2
    6-10
    420
    19.3
    11-15
    353
    16.3
    16-20
    186
    8.6
    21-50
    239
    11.0
    51-100
    77
    3.5
    Over 100
    111
    5.1
    Total
    2,171
    100.0

    Note: Information was not available for 254 (10.5%) of the 2,425 group activities.

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    Table 6-26: Group purpose by group size (number of people)

    Group purpose
    1–5
    6–10
    11–15
    16–20
    21–50
    51–100
    >100
    Total
    Service delivery (n)
    153
    124
    94
    62
    39
    11
    16
    499
    Service delivery (%)
    30.7
    24.8
    18.8
    12.4
    7.8
    2.2
    3.2
    100.0
    Service integration (n)
    75
    32
    54
    6
    5
    -
    1
    173
    Service integration (%)
    43.4
    18.5
    31.2
    3.5
    2.9
    -
    0.6
    100.0
    Service promotion (n)
    109
    63
    57
    29
    53
    12
    17
    340
    Service promotion (%)
    32.1
    18.5
    16.8
    8.5
    15.6
    3.5
    5.0
    100.0
    Community engagement and/or
    community development (n)
    58
    64
    54
    32
    52
    21
    9
    290
    Community engagement and/or
    community development (%)
    20.0
    22.1
    18.6
    11.0
    17.9
    7.2
    3.1
    100.0
    Evaluation (n)
    31
    -
    2
    -
    -
    1
    1
    35
    Evaluation (%)
    88.6
    -
    5.7
    -
    -
    2.9
    2.9
    100.0
    Research (n)
    45
    3
    1
    1
    7
    1
    -
    58
    Research (%)
    77.6
    5.2
    1.7
    1.7
    12.1
    1.7
    -
    100.0
    Training (n)
    37
    71
    60
    33
    42
    12
    16
    271
    Training (%)
    13.7
    26.2
    22.1
    12.2
    15.5
    4.4
    5.9
    100.0
    Sector development (n)
    122
    21
    9
    7
    14
    3
    14
    190
    Sector development (%)
    64.2
    11.1
    4.7
    3.7
    7.4
    1.6
    7.4
    100.0
    Information development and/or
    provision (n)
    105
    15
    7
    4
    9
    3
    11
    154
    Information development and/or
    provision (%)
    68.2
    9.7
    4.5
    2.6
    5.8
    1.9
    7.1
    100.0
    Community awareness (n)
    44
    17
    7
    8
    11
    13
    26
    126
    Community awareness (%)
    34.9
    13.5
    5.6
    6.3
    8.7
    10.3
    20.6
    100.0
    Total (n)
    779
    410
    345
    182
    232
    77
    111
    2,136
    Total (%)
    36.5
    19.2
    16.2
    8.5
    10.9
    3.6
    5.2
    100.0

Note: Information was not available for 289 (11.9%) of the 2,425 group activities.

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6.5.5 Duration of group activity/event

The duration of group activities reported ranged from 0-15 minutes to 7 days or longer, the majority of activities (52.5%) were of less than two hours duration (Table 6-27). Durations of two to four hours were the next most frequently reported (17.4%). Groups of 45 minutes to one hour and four to eight hours accounted for 10.5% and 10.3% of group activities respectively. Groups of one day duration represented 12.8% of activities.

    Table 6-27: Group activity by duration of contact or activity

    Duration of contact or activity
    No.
    %
    0–15 mins
    138
    6.3
    15–30 mins
    196
    9.0
    30–45 mins
    104
    4.8
    45 mins–1 hr
    229
    10.5
    1 hr–1 hr 15 mins
    188
    8.6
    1 hr 15 mins–1 hr 30 mins
    106
    4.9
    1 hr 30 mins–1 hr 45 mins
    31
    1.4
    1 hr 45 mins–2 hrs
    149
    6.9
    2–4 hrs
    379
    17.4
    4–8 hrs
    223
    10.3
    1 day
    278
    12.8
    2 days
    81
    3.7
    3 days
    18
    0.8
    4 days
    3
    0.1
    5 days
    4
    0.2
    6 days
    1
    <0.1
    7 days or longer
    46
    2.1
    Total
    2,174
    100.0

    Note: Information was not available for 251 (10.4%) of the 2,425 group activities.

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    6.5.6 Sector

    Group activities/events were undertaken in a variety of different sector contexts (Table 6-28). The sectors in which most group activity/events occurred were mental health (23.3%), community and social services (17.7%) and construction and mining (13.4%).

    Table 6-28: Group activity by sector

    Sector
    No.
    %
    Health
    106
    4.4
    Mental health
    558
    23.3
    Community and/or social services
    425
    17.7
    Education
    176
    7.3
    Police
    9
    0.4
    Justice
    12
    0.5
    Transport
    4
    0.2
    Finance
    1
    <0.1
    Media
    133
    5.6
    Construction/mining
    320
    13.4
    Consumer/people with lived experience
    107
    4.5
    Carer
    5
    0.2
    Advocate
    14
    0.6
    Research/academic
    33
    1.4
    Public service (not otherwise captured above)
    35
    1.5
    Volunteers
    39
    1.6
    General public
    151
    6.3
    Other
    159
    6.6
    Not applicable
    109
    4.5
    Total
    2,396
    100.0

    Note: Information was not available for 29 (1.2%) of the 2,425 group activities.

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    6.5.7 Settings

    The settings in which group activities occurred are listed in Table 6-29. The two most frequently cited settings for group activities were workplace (28.1%) and community-based (26.4%).

    Table 6-29: Group activity by setting

    Setting
    No.
    %
    Community-based
    625
    26.4
    Health service
    59
    2.5
    Mental health service
    239
    10.1
    Primary care setting
    18
    0.8
    School
    172
    7.3
    Tertiary institution
    113
    4.8
    Vocational services
    69
    2.9
    Workplace
    666
    28.1
    Other law enforcement
    15
    0.6
    None of the above
    391
    16.5
    Total
    2,367
    100.0

    Note: Information was not available for 58 (2.4%) of the 2,425 group activities.

Key findings

Most group activities take place in community-based or workplace settings.Top of page

6.5.8 Age groups

The average age of participants involved in group activities is identified in Table 6-30. Just over one-fifth of groups (21.5%) were reported as being across all age groups and 19.8% were unknown. Among those groups that reported specific average age cohorts, the 35-44 age groups accounted for the greatest proportion of group activities. Few recorded groups featured the youngest and oldest age cohorts in their average age profile. Activities comprising children (0-14 years) and youth/emerging adults (15-24 years) accounted for 4.4% and 10.2% of activities respectively.42 Groups involving people from each of the three oldest age cohorts collectively accounted for 1.7% of group activities represented.

    Table 6-30: Average age groups of group activity participants

    Age group
    No.
    %
    0-4
    0
    0.0
    5-9
    1
    <0.1
    10-14
    107
    4.4
    15-19
    180
    7.4
    20-24
    68
    2.8
    25-29
    91
    3.8
    30-34
    123
    5.1
    35-39
    246
    10.1
    40-44
    256
    10.6
    45-49
    175
    7.2
    50-54
    109
    4.5
    55-59
    39
    1.6
    60-64
    13
    0.5
    65-69
    12
    0.5
    75 years or older
    17
    0.7
    Across all age groups
    509
    21.0
    Age unknown
    479
    19.8
    Total
    2,425
    100.0

Key findings

Only very small numbers of children and older people are represented in group activities. Top of page

6.5.9 Sex

Only 179 (7.4%) group activities were exclusively male and 400 (16.5%) were exclusively female. A further 407 (16.8%) were either not stated or inadequately described. The remainder comprised a mix of males and females, ranging from one percent to 99% in each case.

6.5.10 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status for group activities is recorded on the basis of majority composition of the group, ie, if a majority of the group participants are of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background, the group is recorded accordingly. As identified in Table 6-31, 19.4% of group activities were recorded as being comprised of groups where the majority of participants were of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin. However, for the remaining 51.8% of group activities, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status of participants was either not stated or inadequately described.

    Table 6-31: Group activity by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status

    No.
    %
    Aboriginal but not Torres Strait Islander origin
    261
    10.8
    Torres Strait Islander but not Aboriginal origin
    1
    <0.1
    Both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin
    209
    8.6
    Neither Aboriginal nor Torres Strait Islander origin
    699
    28.8
    Not stated/inadequately described
    1,255
    51.8
    Total
    2,425
    100.0

Key findings

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are over-represented in group activity data (19.4% of group activities compared to an estimated 2.5% of the population).43 This may signify that the NSPP-funded projects are successfully targeting this group, who have a significantly higher rate of suicide than the non-Aboriginal population.

6.5.11 Ethnicity

Projects were asked to provide information on the predominant ethnicity of group activity participants. A free text box was provided for doing so. The information provided was mixed in terms of quality, with many responses listing more than one ethnicity (see Table 6-32).

Overall, the predominant ethnicity of group participants was those who identified as being Australian (60.2%). A mismatch occurred between the number of groups where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander was listed as the predominant ethnicity in the group and the proportion of groups reported in Section 6.5.10 as having the majority of its members comprised of people from Aboriginal and Torres Islander backgrounds. For more than a quarter of group activities (25.6%), ethnicity was not stated.

Those groups listed as having predominantly CALD group members included more than 37 ethnic groups as shown in the following Table 6-33.

The 'other' category generally comprised people of English-speaking background. These included British, Canadian, English, Irish, Scottish and New Zealander.

    Table 6-32: Group activity by ethnicity

    Ethnicity
    No. of activities
    %
    Australian
    1,459
    60.2
    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
    60
    2.5
    Both Aboriginal and non-Indigenous
    2
    0.1
    CALD
    179
    7.4
    Other
    104
    4.3
    Not stated
    621
    25.6
    Total
    2,425
    100.0
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    Table 6-33: Ethnicity (CALD)

    Table 6-33 is presented as a list in this html version. It is formatted as a table in the original PDF document, although it is really a list.

    Ethnicity:

  • Afghani (Hazara)
  • Afghanistan
  • Asia Pacific
  • Australian/Greek
  • Australian/Sudanese
  • Bhutan/Nepali
  • Brazil
  • Burma (Republic of the Union of Myanmar)
  • Burundi
  • China
  • Congo (Republic of)
  • Eritrea
  • Ethiopia
  • Iran
  • Guinea
  • India
  • Iraq
  • Karen
  • Korea
  • Kurdish
  • Kuwait
  • Liberia
  • Malaysian
  • Maori
  • Mozambique
  • Oromo
  • Pacific Islanders
  • Pakistan
  • Persian
  • Philippine
  • Russian
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • Sri Lanka
  • St. Barthelemey
  • Sudanese
  • Thailand
  • Zimbabwe

Note: This is as reported in the MDS. It is noted to be a mix of countries and ethnicities.

Key findings

Although a wide range of ethnic groups were represented in group activity data, the number of people from CALD communities is relatively low. Top of page

6.5.12 Target groups

Group activities were evident for all target groups (Table 6-34). In rank order, the greatest proportion of group activities was directed to the following target groups:
  • Workforce (40.2%)
  • Whole of community (22.9%)
  • Men (19.5%)
  • Rural and remote communities (19.5%)
  • People bereaved by suicide (17.3%).
The groups which ranked lowest in terms of proportion of group activities were:
  • People affected by natural disasters (0.5%)
  • People affected by workforce redundancies (1.1%)
  • Those engaged with the justice system (1.1%)
  • LGBTI populations (3.8%)
  • People at risk (no previous attempts of suicide or self-harm) (4.6%).
It should be noted that two of these target groups (those engaged with the justice system and people at risk) were additions to the list of target group options provided to projects based on feedback from project representatives. Consequently, data was not collected in relation to these target groups for the full snapshot period and this may explain the low percentages recorded.

    Table 6-34: Group activity by target groups

    Target group
    No. of
    activities
    %
    People bereaved by suicide
    420
    17.3
    Men
    472
    19.5
    Children
    191
    7.9
    Youth
    375
    15.5
    Indigenous populations
    370
    15.3
    People living with a mental illness
    346
    14.3
    People who have previously attempted suicide
    172
    7.1
    People who have self-harmed
    130
    5.4
    Rural and remote communities
    472
    19.5
    LGBTI populations
    92
    3.8
    CALD communities
    157
    6.5
    Refugee communities
    140
    5.8
    Older people
    121
    5.0
    People living with an alcohol or other drug problem
    136
    5.6
    Whole of community
    555
    22.9
    Workforce
    976
    40.2
    People affected by workforce redundancies
    26
    1.1
    People affected by natural disasters
    12
    0.5
    People at risk (no previous attempts of suicide or self-harm)
    111
    4.6
    Those engaged with the justice system
    27
    1.1
    Other
    477
    19.7

    Note: Multiple target groups could be nominated.

    Key findings

    It appears that LGBTI people and people engaged with the justice system are 'at risk' populations that are underrepresented in the group activities funded by the NSPP.Top of page

6.5.13 Effect of group activities

Group activities primarily resulted in sector engagement, with almost half of all groups (46.9%) being listed as having this as the main effect of their activities (Table 6-35). Group activity resulted in a direct referral for individual services in 18.5% of activities, or led to requests for specific resources/information (13.4%). Less than 10% of group activities resulted in requests for specific additional activities.

    Table 6-35: Effect of group activity

    Effect of activity
    No. of
    activities
    %
    Individual referral to services (help-seeking)
    412
    18.5
    Request for specific activities
    174
    7.8
    Sector engagement
    1,047
    46.9
    Request for specific resources/information
    299
    13.4
    Other
    300
    13.4
    Total
    2,232
    100.0

    Note: Information was not available for 193 (8.0%) of the 2,425 group activities.

    Key findings

  • The main effect of group activities was sector engagement.
  • Over one third of group activities lead to requests for specific resources/information, activities or referral of individuals to services. This level of further engagement appears to be an important by-product of group activities. Top of page

6.5.14 Geographical distribution of activities

The geographical distribution of group activities is shown in Table 6-36. Most activities were state/territory specific in their focus, with only 9.5% reported as being related to the whole of Australia. At state/territory level, more than one-quarter (27.8%) of all group activities occurred in New South Wales. Victoria (16.9%), Western Australia (13.5%) and Queensland (12.5%) were the next states in terms of highest group activity numbers reported.

    Table 6-36: Group activity by state/territory

    State/territory
    No. of
    activities
    %
    New South Wales
    651
    27.8
    Victoria
    395
    16.9
    Queensland
    293
    12.5
    South Australia
    65
    2.7
    Western Australia
    316
    13.5
    Tasmania
    152
    6.5
    Northern Territory
    220
    9.4
    Australian Capital Territory
    28
    1.2
    Other territories
    1
    <0.1
    Whole of Australia
    222
    9.5
    Total group activities
    2,343
    100.0

    Note: Information was not available for 82 (3.4%) of the 2,425 group activities reported.

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    42 The ABS commonly uses the age group 0-14 years for children and 15-24 years for youth although this does not necessarily apply to all output. ABS, Defining children and youth, accessed 26 June 2013.
    43 Australian Bureau of Statistics, Population Distribution, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, 2006, Summary 4705.0, ABS, Canberra, 2007, accessed 30 April 2013.