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Best Practices Registry (BPR) For Suicide Prevention: Overview

Welcome to the Best Practices Registry (BPR) for suicide prevention, a collaboration between the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). The registry is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Purpose and Structure of the BPR
BPR Guiding Assumptions
Advice on Using the BPR

Purpose and Structure of the BPR

The purpose of the BPR is to identify, review, and disseminate information about best practices that address specific objectives of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention.

The BPR has three sections:

The three sections are not intended to represent "levels" of effectiveness, but rather include different types of programs and practices reviewed according to specific criteria for that section. BPR listings include only materials submitted and reviewed according to the designated criteria and do not represent a comprehensive inventory of all suicide prevention initiatives. Click on the section name below to view a detailed description of the section, the criteria for review, the application process, and fact sheets that contain program descriptions and contact information for approved programs.

Section I: Evidence-Based Programs
This section contains interventions that have undergone rigorous evaluation and have demonstrated positive outcomes. Section I includes listings from two sources: (1) interventions reviewed and rated by SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP); and (2) programs reviewed as part of the SPRC/AFSP Evidence-Based Practices Project (which stopped conducting reviews in 2005).

Section II: Expert and Consensus Statements
This section lists statements that summarize the current knowledge in the field and provide "best practice" recommendations to guide program and policy development.

Section III: Adherence to Standards
This section contains suicide prevention programs and practices, including awareness materials, educational and training programs, protocols, and policies, that have been implemented in specific settings (as opposed to Section II statements, which offer general guidance to the field.) These programs address specific objectives of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and their content has been reviewed for accuracy, likelihood of meeting objectives, and adherence to program design standards. Being listed in this section means that the program content meets the stated criteria; inclusion does not mean that the practice has been proven effective through evaluation (those programs are listed in Section I.) While this section does not include treatments, it does contain practices that support treatment such as case-finding, compliance, and aftercare.

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BPR Guiding Assumptions

The design of the BPR is guided by the following assumptions:

  1. Suicide prevention efforts can be improved by incorporating new knowledge as the field advances.
  2. When possible, suicide prevention practices should undergo rigorous process and outcome evaluation and these findings should be broadly disseminated.
  3. In addition to evaluated interventions, the suicide prevention field also can benefit from the dissemination of practices--including guidelines, protocols, programs, and policies-whose content has been reviewed for accuracy, safety, and adherence to program design standards.
  4. The BPR will facilitate the translation of research to practice by disseminating information about both evaluated suicide interventions and suicide prevention practices that have met accuracy, safety, and program design standards.
  5. Successful dissemination will be facilitated when practice developers, evaluators, and SPRC/AFSP staff members work collaboratively.
  6. In general, practitioners will achieve greater results by creating comprehensive approaches involving multiple layers of coordinated components.
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Frequently Asked Questions about the BPR

The FAQ answers common questions about the BPR, describes how it differs from other registries, and summarizes information about review processes.

Advice on Using the BPR

The BPR is designed to support program planners in creating effective suicide prevention programs. This section explains briefly how the BPR fits into the concept of evidence-based prevention and provides suggestions for using the BPR as part of a data-driven planning process.

What is does the term "evidence-based" mean?
The term evidence-based programs generally refers to interventions that have been evaluated and found to produce the desired results, in this case, reductions in suicidal behaviors or risks. The term evidence-based prevention can refer to those programs and also to effective processes for developing prevention programs, such as assessing local needs and assets, basing program content on up-to-date research and theory, tailoring programs to specific target audiences, designing multiple program components to work synergistically, and conducting evaluation. Choosing evidence-based programs and using effective processes are both important for effective prevention.

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How does the BPR fit into evidence-based prevention?
As described above, Section I of the BPR is designed to disseminate information about evidence-based suicide programs, i.e., interventions proven effective through evaluation.

The design of the BPR also recognizes that the suicide prevention field can benefit from dissemination of other types of information in addition to evaluated programs, i.e., (1) guidance and recommendations created by experts or consensus processes (Section II listings); and (2) programs, practices, and policies that have undergone review to assess whether the content is accurate, safe, likely to meet specified objectives, and consistent with standards of program design (listed in Section III.) While the listed materials in Sections II and III are not evidence-based programs, they are reviewed according to criteria that are "evidence-based" in that they are based on current research and expertise. For example, the statements listed in Section II are based on literature reviews and expert consensus. Likewise, the content of materials listed in Section III has been reviewed for adherence to standards based on research.

Finally, while the BPR is a useful resource for identifying programs and materials, using the BPR is not a substitute for engaging in effective planning processes. In other words, planners should not simply "pick from the list," but rather should engage in a systematic planning effort and use the BPR to help identify programs or materials that address local needs and circumstances. See the next section for more detailed recommendations for using the BPR within the context of effective planning processes.

As described above, Section I of the BPR is designed to disseminate information about suicide prevention programs and practices that have been proven effective through evaluation. The design of the BPR also recognizes that the suicide prevention field can benefit from dissemination of other types of information in addition to evaluated programs, i.e., (1) guidance and recommendations created by experts or consensus processes; and (2) programs, practices, and policies that have undergone review to assess whether the content is accurate, safe, and meets standards of program design. Sections II and III of the BPR are designed to disseminate information about these two additional types of materials.

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How can I use the BPR as a resource for developing effective suicide prevention programs?
Even programs that have been evaluated and found effective will not work in every context or for all audiences. Program planners are encouraged to use the BPR in the context of a data-driven planning process (PDF). This process typically will involve multiple stakeholders in a process of assessing local needs, assets, and readiness and choosing interventions that match local problems and circumstances.

BPR listings can be used in a number of ways during this planning process. For example, planners can search Section I for proven suicide programs or practices that match identified needs, resources, and audiences. If no proven programs exist that match local needs, planners may consider adapting one of the programs listed in Section I, making revisions based on theory, local assessment, and audience research, while retaining key intervention ingredients.

Whether creating a new program or adopting an existing one, planners should consult Section II of the BPR to determine whether there are expert or consensus guidelines relevant to their planning efforts.

It is important that the content of any program or policy be designed according to current standards in the field. Program planners can consult Section III to find examples of programs, practices, and policies for suicide prevention that include accurate information, are likely to meet objectives, follow safe messaging guidelines, and adhere to recommendations for prevention program design. While the programs and materials in Section III have not been reviewed for effectiveness, they can serve as examples of program content that meets specified standards. By following the content guidelines outlined in Section III, planners can increase the likelihood that their programs and practices will be effective.

Finally, planners are encouraged to build evaluation into their efforts to assess the effectiveness of their programs under local circumstances and build the knowledge base in the field.

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For more information about effective planning and evaluation, see

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