The Australian Suicide Prevention Planning Model (AuSPPM)

Modelling suicide prevention service needs across Australia

The Australian Suicide Prevention Planning Model (AuSPPM) is a national framework for estimating the optimal levels of support and resourcing required to meet the suicide prevention service needs of the Australian population. The model is being developed by the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (QCMHR), at The University of Queensland, with funding from the Department of Health and Aged Care as part of the LIFEWAYS consortium led by The University of Melbourne.

About the AuSPPM

The AuSPPM is an evidence-based, proof-of-concept framework designed to provide consistent goals using a common national language to help plan, coordinate and resource suicide prevention services across the system over a 12-month period. It is accompanied by an Excel-based planning support tool that allows users to estimate the expected need for suicide prevention services in an area and the amount of resourcing (for example, full-time staff, number of beds) required to provide optimal access to services based on population size.

The model is of a similar structure and designed to complement the National Mental Health Service Planning Framework (NMHSPF), which provides a framework to support planning mental health services. For more information about the NMHSPF, please visit www.aihw.gov.au/nmhspf

The current AuSPPM and planning support tool are still in draft form and undergoing pilot testing and review by potential users and other suicide prevention stakeholders across Australia. This testing is expected to be complete in May-June 2025 and version 1 of the proof-of-concept model, incorporating user feedback and further refinements, is scheduled for release in June-July 2025.

Background

In Australia, suicide prevention has been highlighted as a key priority area for improving the health and wellbeing of individuals and their communities. However, the current guidance on what types of suicide prevention services should be made available and how many people would benefit from accessing those services is limited. In the absence of such information, policymakers and planners may find it challenging to understand what actions are required to meet the suicide prevention support needs of the population.

The development and structure of the AuSPPM

The AuSPPM has been developed using the best available evidence, drawing on population survey and health services data, current literature, and expert input from people with lived experience, clinicians, service providers, researchers, and health planners.

At present, the estimates generated by the draft, proof-of-concept AuSPPM represent average population support needs by age group, outlining a general approach to suicide prevention services across the whole population. While this general approach emphasises the importance of tailoring implementation of each service to match local populations, estimates have not been specifically tailored to reflect the particular service needs of populations disproportionately impacted by suicide, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, members of the Australian defence force and veterans, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, or people living in rural and remote areas. Further research and consultation to refine the representation of services for these groups in the model is planned for the next phases of model development.

AuSPPM documentation

The draft version of the proof-of-concept AuSPPM documentation describing the model’s components and development as well as the accompanying draft planning support tool are publicly available for download below for the purpose of review, pilot testing and feedback.

Introduction to the AuSPPM (DRAFT) – provides an overview of the model, its development, assumptions, limitations, and applications for planning.

Development of the service taxonomy (DRAFT) – provides an overview of the draft AuSPPM service taxonomy, its development, assumptions and limitations.

Service taxonomy and workforce descriptions (DRAFT) – provides more detailed descriptions of each of the suicide prevention service types currently included in the AuSPPM service taxonomy and their corresponding workforces, including information about the evidence base, example services and further resources.

AuSPPM planning support tool (DRAFT) – an Excel workbook bringing together the various data and model components such as the epidemiology, care profiles, workforce modelling and population data. This can be used to estimate the suicide prevention support needs and associated workforce and other resource requirements in a geographic region, such as an SA3, Primary Health Network, or state/territory.