Findings from international studies show that 1 in 3 university students report thoughts of suicide, that these thoughts persist through university, and are associated with significant drop out and mental illness. This work laid the foundation for the development of COMPAS, a novel screening tool with an inbuilt algorithm that can identify students at risk of suicide 5 times more accurately than current risk assessments. Our team have trained 100 clinical students in talking about suicide and conducting safety planning, to proactively reach out to at-risk students. Our research shows that this is associated with a 41.7% reduction in odds of suicidal behaviour one year later, and doubles rates of help-seeking which is maintained over one year.
In this presentation I will provide an update on how COMPAS is being implemented across Australia, in partnership with Beyond Blue, headspace, and Lifeline WA. I will provide a breakdown of engagement and outcomes according to: Indigenous status, domestic/international students, enrolment status (e.g. PT/FT), gender, and enrolled Faculty. Initial results suggest that fewer men are engaging with the survey, but rates are higher among students studying online or part time. Both international students and First Nations students are strongly represented. I will also present the lived experience perspective on COMPAS from interviews we have conducted with both students and COMPAS clinicians. COMPAS has been well received with students noting the importance of pro-active outreach, stating they would not otherwise have sought support. Clinicians benefit from the exposure COMPAS affords in working with distressed students and report increased confidence in safety planning and talking about suicide.