2023
National evaluation
Beyond Blue commissioned Nous Group to independently evaluate the national expansion of The Way Back from June 2020 to November 2022. The final national evaluation report was finalised in February 2023.
The final report found significant overall reductions in participant psychological distress and suicidal ideation, and significant increases in emotional wellbeing. The report found the service was delivered in line with its intended design across inbound referrals, uptake rates and service delivery.
The evaluation provides important additional evidence on elements of successful aftercare services, and includes 16 recommendations for future implementation of aftercare services.
Final evaluation report
Final evaluation short report
Beyond Blue response to final evaluation report
2022
The interim national evaluation report was finalised in December 2021.
Download The Way Back Support Service Interim Evaluation Short Report
Download the Beyond Blue Response to The Way Back Support Service Interim Evaluation Short Report
2019
Hunter evaluation
Beyond Blue commissioned an independent evaluation of The Way Back in the Hunter New England region of NSW, conducted by a consortium of Calvary Mater Hospital, the University of Newcastle, Hunter Primary Care and Everymind.
This single-site evaluation found:
- 97 percent of people reported positive progress on their recovery plan
- Psychological distress scores dropped, on average, from severe to mild
- People reported less concern about the issues contributing to their attempt, as well as fewer of those issues.
Beyond Blue is preparing to undertake an evaluation of all The Way Back sites operating across Australia to assess the impact and effectiveness of the service model at scale.
Download The Way Back evaluation executive summary
Download The Way Back evaluation full report
Download the Sax Institute ECheck Suicide Aftercare Services Report