Explore the COMPAS website for more details about the research project, additional resources and training support.
Did you know 1 in 3 university students have experienced poor mental health, including suicidal ideation? That's 238,000 students at Australian universities each year.
Given suicide remains the leading cause of death for young people (15 – 24) and adults (25 – 44) in Australia*, we are taking action.
Introducing COMPAS at CDU
COMPAS is a pioneer suicide prevention tool and mental health support program for universities.
Developed by researchers at Curtin University, COMPAS is a survey with an advanced predictive algorithm that can identify individuals at risk of suicide within the next 12 months; meaning we can pinpoint who needs support right now with 88% accuracy.
Charles Darwin University, in collaboration with COMPAS and Curtin University, is committed to improving early intervention and preventing crisis before it occurs. Our goal is to identify who is at risk and provide hope to those in need.
How does COMPAS at CDU work?
Infographic content for screen readers
There is an image of a pathway with five steps to COMPAS at CDU.
- Invite - All current students will be invited to participate in Semester 1, Weeks 7 - 11. You will need 20 – 40 minutes to answer questions about mental, physical and social wellbeing. You do not have to share any information you do not want to.
- Algorithm - The algorithm is a piece of technology that scans the survey in real time to pinpoint students at the highest risk of creating a suicide plan or attempting self-harm in the coming year.
- Telehealth - The algorithm flags who is at risk with our trained CDU COMPAS team. This team will make contact via phone, text or email to arrange a no-cost Telehealth appointment. At this appointment, an initial assessment will be conducted and may include creating a safety plan and referrals to CDU Wellbeing or community services.
- Tailored services - Students will then connect with services for support, resources and practical guidance.
- COMPAS check-in - Our COMPAS at CDU team will schedule a follow-up at 4 weeks to monitor your progress and provide ongoing support.
Our COMPAS at CDU team
Our Master of Psychology students have been trained to provide initial assessment, referral and follow-up.
All phone calls, email and text conversations conducted by Master of Clinical Psychology trainees are supervised by a Senior Clinical Psychologist.
Did you know?
COMPAS is associated with a 41.7% reduction in suicidal behaviour one year later for identified at-risk students.
Frequently asked questions
What does COMPAS mean?
COMPAS is an acronym for Checking on Mental Health Providing Alternatives to Suicide. While not the traditional spelling, a COMPAS also symbolises direction and we are committed to helping our students head toward safety and wellbeing.
How do you manage my survey data?
Survey responses are de-identified with personal information removed and replaced with random ID numbers. The data is stored securely and only accessible by the COMPAS research team to inform better intervention strategies in the future.
How does the COMPAS survey identify if someone is at risk?
The predictive algorithm uses a psychosocial assessment that can flag individuals at future risk of suicide or self-harm. No human reads your answers and makes that assessment. The tool is accurate 88% of the time.
What happens if a student is identified as high risk?
High-risk individuals receive a phone call from a COMPAS team member to discuss their situation, provide support and create a safety plan.
CDU Wellbeing Support Line
If you or someone you know is in crisis or needs immediate support, please contact the CDU Wellbeing Support Line available 24/7 for immediate and confidential support.
Ph: 1300 393 933
SMS: 0488884144
References
*Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2025). Deaths in Australia, Leading causes of death. Australian Government. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/life-expectancy-deaths/deaths-in-australia/contents/leading-causes-of-death
Curtin University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) and Charles Darwin University HREC have both approved this study (HRE2024-0356, H25033).
