What Is COMPAS?

COMPAS, short for Checking on Mental Health, Providing Alternatives to Suicide, is a proactive strategy designed to reach out to individuals identified at elevated risk of suicide. Working collaboratively with the individual, the program facilitates support and safety planning. Assessing their needs, COMPAS connects individuals with appropriate resources and services, such as counselling, community groups, or emergency services if necessary.

The overarching goals of the COMPAS program are to:

  • Improve mental health and reduce the incidence of suicide.

  • Assist individuals in accessing suitable resources.

  • Evaluate the effectiveness of COMPAS in improving wellbeing and preventing suicide.

How does it work

The initial assessment of COMPAS revealed that offering personalized referrals to at-risk students led to a significant 41.7% decrease in the likelihood of suicidal behaviour within a year of their first contact. Recognising the profound effect this has on students, our team received the prestigious 2022 Curtinnovation Award in the teaching and learning category.

COMPAS was developed collaboratively with input from university and community stakeholders, senior clinical psychologists, individuals affected by suicide loss, and students with personal experiences of suicidal ideation and actions.

We're hopeful that COMPAS will enhance the student journey and provide crucial support as they navigate their academic endeavours.

How did COMPAS Start?

Curtin University is part of the World Mental Health International College Student Initiative, focusing on mental health and early interventions for university students globally. Over 18 universities participate, with incoming first-year students invited to complete a comprehensive online survey covering mental and physical health.

Using data from previous Curtin cohorts, our team developed COMPAS-S (Checking on Mental Health Providing Alternatives to Suicide for Students). It's a statistical tool predicting suicidal behaviour risk in the next year, identifying the top 15% of at-risk students and capturing over half of those who later report plans or attempts. We then reach out to those identified to conduct a full psychosocial assessment, conduct safety planning, and link students with appropriate resources.