We are inviting all staff working as frontline workers to take part in a short online anonymous survey (approx. 10min) asking your opinion about population-based screening and referral for suicide risk among frontline workers. 

Current means of assessing suicide risk are accurate only 5% of the time. This has led to calls within the field to abandon outdated risk assessments in favour of multivariable algorithms that consider a range of psycho-social risk and protective factors. COMPAS involves just such an algorithm embedded into an online survey. We can identify individuals at elevated risk of future suicidal behaviours before they reach crisis point. We train Psychology Master’s trainees to proactively reach out to these individuals, through telehealth, to offer support, safety planning, and link in with resources and services appropriate to their needs. Among university students, our research shows this is associated with a doubling in rates of help-seeking and a 41.7% reduction in suicide plans and/or attempts one year later.

We are now seeking to adapt and implement COMPAS for frontline workers. With COMPAS, we have a real opportunity to prospectively identify emerging signs of risk in a timely way and provide early interventions that can effectively, efficiently, and cost-effectively prevent suicide among frontline workers.