RESOURCES FOR RESEARCHERS AND PROGRAM EVALUATORS

Need for Information About Effective Prevention of Suicide

Prevention must be based on the most sound and best evidence available. Suicide prevention must begin with identifying prevention strategies, followed by research to determine if these strategies work. Whenever we believe we have an effective strategy, we should explore the impact and cost of that strategy in a community setting, and then work to improve the strategy and its delivery.

Policymakers and program funders use information about effectiveness to set policy and funding priorities for suicide prevention. They want to implement suicide prevention strategies that work, and they generally consider the following issues when making decisions:

• Potential to reduce or avoid self-injury or death
  
• Social, legal, and ethical impact
  
• Economic impact
  
• Best methods to implement

Each of these considerations is crucial to a successful suicide prevention effort. It is best to consider these elements before starting a program. However, it is never too late to consider these elements within existing programs. Many suicide prevention programs lack evidence about effectiveness and could use the valuable information gleaned by evaluation to make immediate improvements in the program.

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