Appendix C – The Minimum Data Set – Values and Collection Points

Brief overview of the NSPP MDS

The data items contained in the MDS align with the key strategic documents behind the National Suicide Prevention Program e.g. the LIFE Framework. The data items reflect the variety of work undertaken by NSPP projects as well as the range of projects and activities required to produce effects in suicide prevention at the individual and community level.

The MDS consists of three groups of data items:

• Program level information
• Individual activity data
• Group activity data

Individual activities in this context refer to episodes of service that directly or indirectly relate to individual clients. Group activities refer to all non-individual activities and include a broad spectrum of activities such as workshops, meetings, homework groups, community events and research/development. These group activities can vary in scale from small local events to national level projects.

Projects may undertake a range of activities that fall into one or both of these categories. De-identified data should be entered as appropriate to the two types of activities.

The MDS and guidelines contained in this data dictionary recognise that the NSPP is a growing program. It therefore contains data values for activities that may develop in the near future and allows for flexibility in the recording of data items across and within projects. This will result in the ongoing Evaluation Framework remaining valid in coming years.

NSPP Minimum Data Set - Levels of Activity

Figure 1 shows the three different groupings of data items in the MDS.

Program Level Information

This information is to be reported by each project once per month. The information will be editable in case any changes are required.

For those utilising the Excel spreadsheets, a separate sheet will contain these items.

Individual Activity

Individual Activity data relates to episodes of service provided to or in relation to an individual during the reporting period.

Group Activity

Activity is reported on a per activity basis. This may be a workshop, group activity or a much larger event. It includes a broad spectrum of activities such as workshops, meetings, homework groups, community events and research/ development. These group activities can vary in scale from small local events to national level projects, and can be once-off or on-going.

A once off event is classified as one activity. Each convening of an on-going event is considered a single activity for reporting processes. Top of page

Figure 1: Grouping of data items in the MDS - NSPP Minimum dataset

Larger version of figure 1

Larger version of figure 1 (PDF 25 KB) Top of page

Text version of figure 1

Data items in the MDS are grouped into three domains for projects to report on. These domains are:

• program level information
• individual activity information
• group activity information

All projects are required to provide data for program level information, and then, depending on the type of service the project delivers, they must also provide data for individual activity and group activity items.

Following are lists of data items which capture information under each of these domains. Items with an asterisk (*) indicate common items that feature in more than one domain.

Program level information

• 1 LIFE Action Area
• 2 Suicide prevention activity
• 3 Promotion of activity
• 4 Setting
• 5 Time estimate
• 6 Comment on activities Top of page

Individual activity

• 7 *Client/ Group ID
• 8 Individual client activity
• 9 *Date of contact/ activity
• 10 *Duration of contact/ activity
• 11 *Target group
• 12 *Sex
• 13 *Age
• 14 Refugee status
• 15 *Ethnicity
• 16 *Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status
• 17 *State/ territory
• 18 *Postcode
• 19 Referral source
• 20 Referral destination
• 21 *Activity mechanism
• 22 Mode of session
• 23 Session type

Group activity

• 7 *Client/ Group ID
• 9 *Date of contact/ activity
• 10 *Duration of contact/ activity
• 11 *Target group
• 24 Activity type
• 25 Activity mode
• 12 *Sex
• 13 *Age
• 15 *Ethnicity
• 16 *Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status
• 17 *State/ territory
• 18 *Postcode
• 4 Setting
• 26 Activity level
• 27 Number of people engaged
• 28 Sector/ industry
• 29 Effects of activity Top of page

NSPP Minimum Data Set – Values and Collection Points

Table 1 sets out the MDS items. For each item, the item number, name, data value and whether the item is to be collected at either individual or group level is indicated. A brief definition for each item is also provided.

This data item refers to efforts made to promote the NSPP service or activity. This may include raising awareness of services or activities available.

Table 1: MDS Data Items

Program level information

MDS Item No.	Item Name	Data Values	Individual Activities	Group Activities	Definition
1.	LIFE Action Area	Improving the evidence base and understanding of suicide prevention Building individual resilience and the capacity for self help Improving community strength, resilience and capacity in suicide prevention Taking a coordinated approach to suicide prevention Providing targeted suicide prevention activities Implementing standards and quality in suicide prevention	yes	yes	The LIFE Framework was developed in 2007 to identify the scope of population health approaches and suicide prevention activities that would lead to the prevention of suicides in Australia. The LIFE Framework Action Areas summarise the high level considerations in implementing the LIFE Framework for action. The definitions below are taken directly from the LIFE Framework (pg. 24).
2.	Suicide Prevention Activity	Universal intervention Selective intervention Indicated intervention Symptom identification Finding and accessing early care and support Standard treatment Longer-term treatment and support Ongoing None of the above	yes	yes	This item draws on the LIFE Framework (2007, pg. 20) to identify the range of types of suicide prevention activities and interventions that are essential for a whole of community response to reducing the rate of suicide in Australia, and the risk of suicide, of suicide attempts and of suicidal behaviours in individuals. For each activity/intervention the following is defined: the target group; the proposed outcomes; and who might be involved in the activity/intervention.
3.	Promotion of Activity	Print media Online media Social media Television broadcasting Radio broadcasting Local service providers Community events Community organisations Community leaders Other (specify) No promotion of activity	yes	yes	This data item refers to efforts made to promote the NSPP service or activity. This may include raising awareness of services or activities available.
4.	Setting	Community based Health service Mental health service Emergency department Primary care setting School Tertiary institution Vocational services Workplace Prison Other law enforcement None of the above	yes	yes	This data item refers to the setting in which the NSPP services or activity was held.
5.	Time Estimate	Travel Event/Activity Planning Administration Event/Activity Promotion Research and development Information development and/or provision Service provision Supervision activities Other (specify):	yes	yes	This data item captures the percentage of time spent in non-direct activities during the reporting month.
6.	Comment on Activities	Barriers and challenges Good news stories	yes	yes	This data item captures the achievements and barriers experienced in the implementation of the NSPP project.

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Activity specific information

MDS Item No.	Item Name	Data Values	Individual Activities	Group Activities	Definition
7.	Client/Group ID	Free text	yes	yes	This data item allows NSPP projects to assign a unique individual ID number or a Group ID number to identify previous data entered. In the web based data entry system, when the unique ID is entered, the last data entered will populate some fields to minimise data entry. In the Excel spreadsheet, data can be copied to create a new row of information.
8.	Individual Client Activity	New clients Current clients Closed clients	yes	no	This data item allows the recording of the number of individual clients who have received direct individual care via NSPP services or activities. It does not include individuals who receive NSPP services or activities in a group setting. A client should be counted if a NSPP funded worker provides a service during the reporting period.
9.	Date of Contact or Activity	DD/MM/YYYY	yes	yes	This data item captures the date of the contact or activity.
10.	Duration of Contact or Activity	Minutes or Days	yes	yes	This data item captures the duration of the contact or activity.
11.	Target Group	People bereaved by suicide Men Children Youth Indigenous populations People living with a mental illness People who have previously attempted suicide People who have self harmed People at risk (no previous suicide attempt or self harm) Rural and remote communities LGBTI populations CALD communities Refugee communities Older people People living with an alcohol or other drug problem Whole of community Workforce People affected by workforce redundancies People affected by natural disasters Those engaged with the criminal justice system Other, please specify	yes	yes	This data item refers to the target groups identified in the NSPP with some additional groupings added to cover all target groups as described in the consultations with Project stakeholders.
12.	Sex	Male Female Not stated/inadequately described	yes	yes	This definition is drawn from the 'Sex' data item in the National Health Data Dictionary Version 16 (NHDDv16, pg 1942). Operationally, sex is the biological distinction between male and female, as reported by a person or as determined by an interviewer
13.	Age	0-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75 years or older Across all age ranges Not stated Age Unknown	yes	yes	This definition is drawn from the 'Age Range' data item in the National Health Data Dictionary Version 16 (NHDDv16, pp. 172-174). The age range that best accommodates a person’s completed age in years, at the time of commencement with the service or activity, as represented by a data value below.
14.	Refugee status	Refugee Not a refugee Unknown	yes	no	The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) definition of a refugee is a person who: owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country…Article 1, The 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.
15.	Ethnicity	Free text	yes	yes	We propose to collect this for individuals and groups (where this is practical). The item will be a free text item that will then be coded utilising the ABS Australian Standard Classification of Cultural and Ethnic Groups, Second edition 2011.
16.	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Status	Aboriginal but not Torres Strait Islander origin Torres Strait Islander but not Aboriginal origin Both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin Neither Aboriginal nor Torres Strait Islander origin Not Stated/Inadequately described	yes	yes	This definition is drawn from the 'Indigenous Status' data item in the National Health Data Dictionary Version 16 (NHDDv16, pg 1138). Whether a person identifies as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin.
17.	State/Territory	New South Wales Victoria Queensland South Australia Western Australia Tasmania Northern Territory Australian Capital Territory Other territories (Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island and Jervis Bay Territory) Whole of Australia (event) Unknown	yes	yes	The individual client's State/Territory based on their usual residence.
18.	Postcode	Postcode values Unknown Homeless or itinerant Not applicable	yes	yes	Postcode of client's usual residence. If postcode is unknown, estimate State/Territory at Item 17.
19.	Referral Source	Self referral Health provider - Emergency Department Health provider - Inpatient Health provider - Community Care Health provider - Primary Care Mental health provider - Inpatient Unit Mental health provider - Community Care Mental health provider - Aboriginal Mental Health Services Community and Social Service (Government) Community and Social Service (Non Government Organisation) Education sector Juvenile justice Housing provider Employer Police Coroner Internal referral Migration/settlement service Community event or activity Other, specify Unknown	yes	no	This data item captures the referral source for individual client care.
20.	Referral Destination	Referral not necessary Health provider - Emergency Department Health provider - Community Care Health provider - Primary Care Mental health provider - Inpatient Unit Mental health provider - Community Care Mental health provider - Aboriginal Mental Health Services Community and Social Service (Government) Community and Social Service (Non Government Organisation) Education sector Juvenile justice Housing provider Employer Police Coroner Internal referral Migration/settlement service Self management Other, specify No further action required Not applicable	yes	no	This data item captures the referral destination for an individual client receiving a service.
21.	Activity Mechanism	Individual Family Peer group Workplace School Tertiary Education Setting Community Other, specify	yes	no	This data field captures the mechanisms used to provide care to an individual. For example, the service may have to work with the local community of family members to initially reach and then maintain a therapeutic relationship with the individual.
22.	Mode of session	Face to face Telephone Online	yes	no	This data item refers to the mode used for the individual care session.
23.	Session type	Direct client contact Non direct client case planning with professionals Non direct case planning/management with families, carers and/or significant others Non direct engagement with community leaders Supportive service - community Supportive service - family, friends- family, friends	yes	no	This data item refers to whether or not the session involved direct or non-direct care to the individual.
24.	Activity Type	Service Delivery Service Integration Service Promotion Community Engagement and/or Community Development Evaluation Research Training Sector Development Information Development and/or Provision Community Awareness	yes	yes	Activity Type identifies the primary purpose of each activity provided (by this NSPP) in the reporting period.
25.	Activity Mode	Workshops Meetings Presentations Training Consultation events Community events Clinical/counselling Desk based work Other, specify	no	yes	Activity Mode identifies the primary mode of delivery of the group activity
26.	Activity Level	'One off' activity Ongoing Activity No	no	yes	This data item captures whether or not an activity occurred during the reporting period. Activity refers to a defined activity or formal event. This may be either one off or ongoing.
27.	No. of people engaged	No. of attendees	no	yes	This data item captures the number of participants or attendees engaged via the activity or event. This includes actual people engaged via direct participation and estimated people reached e.g. broadcasting event.
28.	Sector/Industry	Health Mental Health Community and/or Social Services Education Police Justice Transport Finance Media Construction/Mining Consumer/ People with Lived Experience Carer Advocate Research/Academic Public Service (not otherwise captured above) Volunteers General Public Other, specify Not applicable	no	yes	This data item captures the sector or industry of the group engaged in activities that specifically relate to workforce development.
29.	Effects of Activity	Individual referral to services (help seeking) Request for specific activities Sector engagement Request for specific resources/ information Other, specify	no	yes	This data item captures effects that may arise as a result of a specific activity or event.