COMPAS-S. Checking on Mental Health Providing Alternative to Suicide for Students: Training Manual for Phone Assessments.

Using data from previous cohorts of Curtin students, our research team have developed a program called Checking on Mental Health Providing Alternatives to Suicide for Students (COMPAS-S). The team have developed a multivariable statistical tool to pre-emptively identify students at future risk of suicidal behaviour (including plans and attempts) in the next 12-months. This new algorithm can identify the top 15% of at-risk individuals and capture 53.06 % of students who report a subsequent plan or attempt. COMPAS-S embeds this statistical tool into the wellbeing survey that all in-coming first year students are invited to take part in.

Our team then proactively reach out to students identified at elevated risk and, in collaboration with the student, conduct support and safety planning. We assess the student’s needs and link them in with appropriate resources and services, including Curtin Counselling, Student Services, Guild Clubs, and community groups. In some instance, this might mean talking with the student about attending the emergency department if they are currently in crisis.

Initial evaluation of COMPAS-S shows that identifying and providing personalised referrals for students identified as at-risk is associated with a 41.7% reduction in the probability of suicidal behaviour one year after the initial phone call. In recognition of the impact this has on university students, our team were awarded the 2022 Curtinnovation Award in the teaching and learning category.