Stigma Statistics - STAR platform

Background and aims

Stigma Statistics’ suicide tracking analysis and reporting (STAR) platform enables the sharing of information relating to suspected suicides in real time. Stakeholders are able to add information relating to the circumstances of the person’s death as well as further demographic, personal and medical information. The solution also includes functionality for escalation planning and lessons learned and there is a reporting module which offers real time reporting with a case map and deeper analysis tools.

Real time surveillance is central to Stigma Statistics, the rationale for which is as follows: 

• Fast identification of suicides to support proactive prevention and postvention activity to help those affected and bereaved by suicide (Cerel et al., 2018)
• Provides analytical intelligence on high incidence areas which can be acted on quickly (Platt et al., 2006).

Solution

The STAR tool allows data to be collected for any sudden death where suicide is suspected whether it be from the police or coroner and shares data with and notifies identified key stakeholders who can then input data they hold about the person.

STAR enables mental health and support services to identify individuals with high suicide risk. Stigma Statistics is committed to developing functionality to enable suicide prevention and the STAR platform is just the first step.

The STAR platform has been developed with information security and GDPR at the core.  Next of kin consent is fundamental to enabling the bereavement support process.

Outcomes and benefits

The STAR platform was initially piloted in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough over a three month period and all users reported that the platform had led to or will lead to better outcomes for their service in the future, ultimately, saving lives. The STAR platform is now used in several other regions and Stigma Statistics is looking for more partners to collaborate with.

Outcomes include:

1. Better interoperability - Platform to share information between stakeholders.​​​​​​

2. Better collaboration - Platform to unify stakeholders, both locally and nationally.​​​​​​

3. Better support services - Informs bereavement support services enabling mobilisation within the critical 72 hour period following a suicide.​​​​​​

4. Better data - Monitors geoprahical high incidence areas and clusters.

5. Better prevention & intervention strategies - Provides visibility and responsive data for suicide incidence, which will help in the prevention and reduction of suicides.

References

Cerel, J., Brown, M., Maple, M., Singleton, M., van de Venne, J., Moore, M., Flaherty, C. (2018). How many people are exposed to suicide? Not six. Suicide Life Threatening Behavior, 9(2), 529-534. 

Platt. S., McLean, J., McCollam, A., Blamey, A., Mackenzie, M. McDaid, D., Maxwell, M., Halliday, E. & Woodhouse, A. (2006). Evaluation of the First Phase of Choose Life: The National Strategy and Action Plan to Prevent Suicide in Scotland. Scottish Executive.

Additional information

You can find out more about the Stigma Statistics by accessing the Stigma Statistics website and the Stigma Statistics Member Page.