The National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Evaluation Framework and Sharing Guidelines were published in February 2025.
These resources were developed under the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement 2022. They provide nationally consistent, best-practice guidance on the conduct and sharing of evaluations in the sector. This aims to improve the evidence base underpinning mental health and suicide prevention programs and services.
About the Evaluation Framework
The Evaluation Framework relates to a key recommendation from the Productivity Commission 2020 Inquiry into Mental Health to embed an evaluation culture into the system.
It aims to help improve the mental health and suicide prevention system for the people and communities who need it. It will do this by providing guidance to strengthen the quality and consistency of evaluations of mental health and suicide prevention programs.
It is intended to be useful to all groups with a stake in mental health and suicide prevention, including:
- government agencies
- government-funded or -delivered mental health and suicide prevention service providers
- researchers and evaluators
- people with lived and/or living experience of mental ill-health and/or suicide, and their families, carers, and support people
- other agencies working in this space.
About the Sharing Guidelines
The Sharing Guidelines aim to improve the way that evaluation methods and findings are shared by the community of people who work to prevent suicide and improve the mental health and wellbeing of Australians.
Sharing reinforces an evaluation culture and contributes to the evidence base for Australian initiatives, services, and programs. The guidelines also help ensure that information is shared appropriately and that privacy risks for individuals are effectively managed.
Both the Evaluation Framework and Sharing Guidelines have been developed in close consultation with governments and key stakeholders, including those with a lived experience of mental ill health and suicide and First Nations peoples.
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