The NSW Suicide Monitoring System recorded 933 suspected or confirmed suicide deaths in 2023, highlighting the need for effective prevention strategies. The Towards Zero Suicides (TZS) initiative funds non-clinical crisis services like Safe Havens and Suicide Prevention Outreach Teams (SPOTs), providing peer-led, community-based support to individuals in distress. This Evidence Check aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of such interventions for people aged 16 and over, informing potential refinements or new approaches in NSW. Fifteen studies from Australia, the US, Canada, Denmark, Belgium, and the UK were reviewed. Digital interventions, including self-help tools, social media campaigns, and crisis text lines, were accessible and well-received, especially among young people. Community-led programs like Wesley LifeForce Networks and Deadly Thinking improved local suicide prevention capacity. Crisis support services, such as Lifeline’s follow-up calls, were linked to reduced suicide risk. Workplace programs, like MATES in Energy, enhanced suicide literacy but showed mixed results for improving mental health. Peer-led and co-designed interventions were generally more engaging and relevant to service users. However, most studies had short-term follow-up, limiting assessments of long-term impact. Research gaps exist for Indigenous and LGBTQIA+ communities, and many studies lacked control groups, making causal links difficult to establish. Moving forward, a combination of digital, community-based, and workplace interventions is recommended. Sustained funding, long-term evaluation, and targeted research are essential to improving non-clinical suicide prevention strategies and ensuring their effectiveness for diverse populations.

Citation

Nick Petrunoff, Bess Jackson, Samuel Harley, Alexandra Schiavuzzi, Melissa McEnallay, Cathelijne van Kemenade, Myfanwy Maple, Sarah Wayland, Alice Knight, Eileen Goldberg. Non-clinical interventions and services for individuals with suicide distress or crisis: an Accelerated Evidence Snapshot prepared by the Sax Institute (www.saxinstitute.org.au) for Mental Health Branch, 2025. DOI: 10.57022/fknj4927

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