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LifeConnect process evaluation

This process evaluation tracked the evolution of LifeConnect into a majority Lived Experience, suicide awareness service.

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Overview

  • Practice research
  • Service evaluations

From 2019 – 2024, Neami was funded by the Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (EMPHN) to deliver the LifeConnect service. Originally a prevention and postvention service, funding, staffing, and conceptual changes saw LifeConnect evolve into a suicide awareness service. It focused on enhancing community understanding and ownership of creating healing connections for people experiencing suicidality.

This process evaluation outlined the LifeConnect practice model, how the service evolved into a majority lived experience (LE) service, and the role LifeConnect played in responding to suicidality in the EMPHN region. A supplementary resource with reflections and practical guidance on recruiting, supporting, and sustaining LE workforces in suicide awareness services was also developed.

Who is involved

Neami National, EMPHN

Project Status

Complete

Findings

Key elements

LifeConnect was sustained by its mission to destigmatise suicidality. Investment in community partnerships, a range of activities and formats, and humble use of lived experience enabled the team to welcome people into conversations rethinking suicide where and how they are ready. LifeConnect drew on emerging evidence to reframe suicide prevention and centre connection rather than risk.

Service evolution

LifeConnect evolved through five phases. This journey revealed the importance of investment in team support and leadership structures to sustain courageous, vulnerable, relational work. Understanding organisational readiness, staying the course of change, and partnership between funders and providers are crucial to embed emerging practices effectively and authentically.

Success factors and barriers

A clear service model, delivered by passionate staff, who invest in connections with the Lived Experience community, and are committed to learning, enabled the effective delivery of the LifeConnect service. Short-term and uncertain funding challenged the service model and staff morale. Navigating tensions between risk and relational paradigms revealed the depth of practice and cultural change required to achieve LifeConnect’s mission.

Contact

Rebecca Spies

Bek (she/her) is a qualitative researcher, passionate about participatory approaches to research and evaluation and their potential to disrupt the status quo and redistribute power.
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Mush McLoughlan

Mush (they/them) is a Lived Experience Researcher. Mush is particularly interested in trauma informed care, alternative crisis supports, health at every size approaches, codesign, and ways to add more lived experience to research and the mental health system more broadly.
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