RESOURCES FOR RESEARCHERS AND PROGRAM EVALUATORS

Suicide Prevention Prevention Effectiveness and Evaluation

Lack of evaluation research is the single greatest obstacle to improving current efforts to prevent suicide.

– from an article in MMWR, April 22, 1994

Vol. 43/No. RR-6, page 6

Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Education Development Center, Inc.

This publication was supported by Grant #R13/CCR417100-01 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC.

Suggested citation:
SPAN USA, Inc. (2001). Suicide Prevention:
Prevention Effectiveness and Evaluation.
SPAN USA, Atlanta, GA.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Introduction

Section 1
Principles of Suicide Prevention Effectiveness
Need for Information About Effective Prevention of Suicide
Prevention Targeting
     Target levels
     Targeting by stage
Assessing Prevention Effectiveness
     Efficacy: Does it work under ideal circumstances?
     Effectiveness: Does it work in the real world?
     Safety: How safe will it be in the real world?
     Economic studies: How cost-effective is it?
Principles of Suicide Prevention Effectiveness

Section 2
Evaluating Suicide Prevention Programs
Purpose of Evaluation
Cost of Evaluation
Selecting an Evaluator
Integrating Evaluation into the Program
Components of Evaluation
     Clear objectives
     Description of the target population
     Description of what is to be evaluated
Six Steps to Program Evaluation
     Engage stakeholders
     Describe the program
     Focus the evaluation design
     Gather credible evidence
     Justify conclusions
     Ensure use and share lessons learned

Where Do We Go from Here?

Prevention Effectiveness and Evaluation Resources on the Internet