Strengthening the Contributions of the Defense Suicide Prevention Office to DOD's Suicide Prevention Efforts

Using a multi-step organizational assessment framework, this report provides an organizational analysis and programmatic review of the Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO). It reviews DSPO’s mission, describes how DSPO has evolved as an organization, and offers IDA’s identification of DSPO’s value-added functions and how well they are being performed. These functions are: strategy and policy; collaboration and advocacy; outreach and education; program evaluation; data management; support for research; and resource management. As DSPO moves toward an evidence-based management framework, this report suggests enhancements in three specific areas: program evaluation mechanisms; access to suicide data and DSPO’s reporting obligations; and possible mechanisms for DSPO to guide and apply research on suicide prevention. Finally, IDA has assessed DSPO’s organization and staffing with respect to its necessary functions and deliverables.