Suicide Prevention Australia Community Tracker

About the tracker

The Suicide Prevention Australia Community Tracker provides a timely health check on the social and economic issues driving distress and subsequent suicide risk in Australia.

It is designed to provide real-time, community-wide insights to policy makers, practitioners and the community and to support suicide prevention.

It is also intended to supplement other existing datasets including from the National Suicide and Self-Harm Monitoring System and our annual State of the Nation Report in Suicide Prevention in addition to having the benefit of national representation and timeliness.

March 2024 results

December 2023 results

September 2023 results

June 2023 results

March 2023 results

December 2022 results

What is the purpose of the Suicide Prevention Australia Community Tracker?

We announced the establishment of the quarterly tracker on World Suicide Prevention Day 2022 after our members told us that they need more real-time information on distress in the community and suicide risk factors.

The Tracker essentially increases the frequency of our annual community survey we’ve conducted for several years and released annually.

It is intended to give a voice to how people are feeling and what they’re thinking. It is not intended to replace other key sector datasets. We use it to supplement existing datasets including from the National Suicide and Self-Harm Monitoring System, ABS and our annual State of the Nation Report in Suicide Prevention.

How is the survey conducted?

The tracker is commissioned through YouGov plc which draws insights from over 1,000 adults (aged 18+) and the figures are weighted by age, gender and region to reflect the latest ABS population estimates. YouGov is an international research data and analytics group and is widely used for survey data of this kind including members and other peaks. YouGov is guided by a Code of Conduct and a set of research ethics in every aspect of their work.

Who do you share the insights with?

We release the quarterly data to our members and to the public on our website. Alongside this, we brief the relevant Government Ministers and Departments who have found the insights useful pulse of the community.

Is there help-seeking shared with the participants throughout the survey?

Yes. Before the participant begins the online survey, there is a warning which lets them know that the questions will be about a sensitive subject. There are crisis lines (Lifeline and Suicide Call Back Service) shared and an option to opt out of the survey. If they choose to continue, help-seeking numbers are shared at multiple intervals throughout the survey and there is a chance to opt out at any point. Participants also have the opportunity to provide feedback once the survey is complete.

How is the data used?

Once the survey is complete, the data is then owned by Suicide Prevention Australia. The results are entirely anonymous, and they’re only reported on in an aggregated way.

Do participants know about the collection of personal data?

Yes. Before someone becomes a YouGov panellist, they must sign various terms and conditions which includes the collection of their personal information. They are aware and consent to the collection and use of their personal information as specified in YouGov’s privacy policy which you can read here: https://account.yougov.com/au-en/account/privacy-policy#how-and-why-we-use-your-personal-data. At any point, panellists can request a “right to know” copy of all the personal data YouGov has, and they can then ask for parts (or all) of it to be deleted.

FAQs