Using Program Analysis and Evaluation to Reduce Suicides in the Military

The President, Congress , the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Armed Forces are committed to reducing the suicide rate among Service Members.  One of the ways this commitment is being carried out is through the Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO), established in 2011 to provide oversight for the strategic development, implementation, standardization and evaluation of DoD suicide prevention programs, policies and surveillance activities.  One of DSPO’s primary efforts is to conduct a comprehensive program analysis and evaluation of suicide prevention programs, which will result in a DoD suicide prevention portfolio that is more effective, more efficient and aligned with research-based National prevention strategies.

DSPO’s methodology includes three integrated segments:

• Strategy Coverage:  Align programs with prevention strategies
• Resource Analysis:  Conduct a review of programs to determine full cost of requirements/level of effort, funding amounts, shortfalls/overages
• Program/Portfolio Effectiveness:  Collect/examine measures of effectiveness

DSPO’s effort combines methodologies including Strategic Integration, Portfolio Analysis, Operations Research, Strategic Planning and Lean Six Sigma to create a holistic landscape of the suicide prevention portfolio.  The data from this investigation is combined with strategy alignment in the electronic Planning, Programing, Budgeting and Execution System (ePPBES), allowing the Department to analyze the data and integrate program evaluation results into DoDs Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution (PPBE) process, for ultimate incorporation into the President’s Budget.  DSPO’s evaluation results provide decision makers with the analysis necessary to make informed decisions regarding policy, resources allocation, and implementation of best practices, and ultimately affect change in order to reduce suicides.

The President, Congress , the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Armed Forces are committed to reducing the suicide rate among Service Members.  One of the ways this commitment is being carried out is through the Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO), established in 2011 to provide oversight for the strategic development, implementation, standardization and evaluation of DoD suicide prevention programs, policies and surveillance activities.  One of DSPO’s primary efforts is to conduct a comprehensive program analysis and evaluation of suicide prevention programs, which will result in a DoD suicide prevention portfolio that is more effective, more efficient and aligned with research-based National prevention strategies.

DSPO’s methodology includes three integrated segments:

• Strategy Coverage:  Align programs with prevention strategies
• Resource Analysis:  Conduct a review of programs to determine full cost of requirements/level of effort, funding amounts, shortfalls/overages
• Program/Portfolio Effectiveness:  Collect/examine measures of effectiveness

DSPO’s effort combines methodologies including Strategic Integration, Portfolio Analysis, Operations Research, Strategic Planning and Lean Six Sigma to create a holistic landscape of the suicide prevention portfolio.  The data from this investigation is combined with strategy alignment in the electronic Planning, Programing, Budgeting and Execution System (ePPBES), allowing the Department to analyze the data and integrate program evaluation results into DoDs Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution (PPBE) process, for ultimate incorporation into the President’s Budget.  DSPO’s evaluation results provide decision makers with the analysis necessary to make informed decisions regarding policy, resources allocation, and implementation of best practices, and ultimately affect change in order to reduce suicides.