Program evaluation and decision analytic modelling of Universal Suicide Prevention Training (Safe-TALK) in secondary schools
Centre For Health Economics Seminar Series
Suicide is a significant global public health problem and ranks among the top ten causes of death in Western countries and top five causes of death among young people. In Australia, suicide is the leading cause of death among Australian youth 15–24 years of age with an annual rate reaching 11.6 deaths per 100,000 population and over 302.9 hospital admissions for self-harm per 100,000, resulting in an annual cost in excess of AU$549.3 million.
Evidence suggests that young people at risk of self-harm are less likely to seek support from parents or professionals and more likely to reach out to their peers for help. This study aims to evaluate a suicide awareness training (safeTALK) delivered to secondary school students (ages 15–16) in Mackay, located in the Australian state of Queensland, and to model potential return on investment (ROI) on a population basis.
Evaluation consisted of two phases, ex-post and ex-ante. Phase I was an interrupted series analysis using a mixed method questionnaire administered immediately prior (Time 1), immediately after (Time 2), and 4 weeks post training (Time 3). Phase II involved decision analytic modelling comparing safeTALK to the status quo. ROI was modelled using Markov chains for a hypothetical population of students aged 15-19 in Mackay (n=2561; suicide rate 78.1 per 100,000), Queensland (n=296,287; 10.2) and Australia (n=1,421,595; 8.3); applying AU$2014 as the reference year. Model parameters, including rates of hospitalised deliberate self-harm and suicide, cost implications and effectiveness of safeTALK were drawn from available published literature. The baseline model adapted a health and justice systems’ perspective, with an alternative model incorporating a societal perspective.
Presenter
Dr Irina Kinchin
CQUniversity
Irina is a senior postdoctoral fellow at the School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences based at Central Queensland University (CQUniversity) in Brisbane. She co-leads impact evaluation stream at the Centre for Indigenous Health Equity Research (CQUniversity) and holds an adjunct research fellow appointment at the Cairns Institute, James Cook University.
Irina’s research focuses on empirical impact evaluations of public health and primary care interventions for vulnerable populations (people at risk of suicide, Indigenous Australians, people with mental illness, experiencing homelessness, substance abuse, or frailty). Her work brings a practical economic viewpoint to health-related and social issues, including whether the new initiative works, has better outcomes than current practice, culturally appropriate and acceptable. Since March 2016, she is supported by a fellowship position at CQUniversity, where her main area of research is mental health with a focus on suicidal behaviour.
Visitors are most welcome to attend.
Event Details
- Date:
- 27 February 2019 at 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
- Venue:
- Monash University, 900 Dandenong Road, Building H, Level 9, Room 9.21, Caulfield East, Victoria 3145
- Cost:
- Free
- Categories:
- Global Business; Health Economics
Description
Centre For Health Economics Seminar Series
Suicide is a significant global public health problem and ranks among the top ten causes of death in Western countries and top five causes of death among young people. In Australia, suicide is the leading cause of death among Australian youth 15–24 years of age with an annual rate reaching 11.6 deaths per 100,000 population and over 302.9 hospital admissions for self-harm per 100,000, resulting in an annual cost in excess of AU$549.3 million.
Evidence suggests that young people at risk of self-harm are less likely to seek support from parents or professionals and more likely to reach out to their peers for help. This study aims to evaluate a suicide awareness training (safeTALK) delivered to secondary school students (ages 15–16) in Mackay, located in the Australian state of Queensland, and to model potential return on investment (ROI) on a population basis.
Evaluation consisted of two phases, ex-post and ex-ante. Phase I was an interrupted series analysis using a mixed method questionnaire administered immediately prior (Time 1), immediately after (Time 2), and 4 weeks post training (Time 3). Phase II involved decision analytic modelling comparing safeTALK to the status quo. ROI was modelled using Markov chains for a hypothetical population of students aged 15-19 in Mackay (n=2561; suicide rate 78.1 per 100,000), Queensland (n=296,287; 10.2) and Australia (n=1,421,595; 8.3); applying AU$2014 as the reference year. Model parameters, including rates of hospitalised deliberate self-harm and suicide, cost implications and effectiveness of safeTALK were drawn from available published literature. The baseline model adapted a health and justice systems’ perspective, with an alternative model incorporating a societal perspective.
Presenter
Dr Irina Kinchin
CQUniversity
Irina is a senior postdoctoral fellow at the School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences based at Central Queensland University (CQUniversity) in Brisbane. She co-leads impact evaluation stream at the Centre for Indigenous Health Equity Research (CQUniversity) and holds an adjunct research fellow appointment at the Cairns Institute, James Cook University.
Irina’s research focuses on empirical impact evaluations of public health and primary care interventions for vulnerable populations (people at risk of suicide, Indigenous Australians, people with mental illness, experiencing homelessness, substance abuse, or frailty). Her work brings a practical economic viewpoint to health-related and social issues, including whether the new initiative works, has better outcomes than current practice, culturally appropriate and acceptable. Since March 2016, she is supported by a fellowship position at CQUniversity, where her main area of research is mental health with a focus on suicidal behaviour.
Visitors are most welcome to attend.
Event Contact
- Name
- che-enquiries@monash.edu
- Phone
- 9905 0733
- Organisation