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Section Ia: Overview of NREPP
(National Registry of
Evidence-Based Programs and Practices)

*View Program Listings*

Section I of the BPR lists suicide prevention and treatment interventions that have undergone rigorous evaluation and have demonstrated positive outcomes, drawn from two sources:

While the NREPP registry currently accepts applications for review, the SPRC/AFSP Evidence-Based Practices Project stopped conducting reviews in 2005.

This page provides an overview of NREPP (Section Ia). Information about Section Ib of the BPR can be found on the SPRC/AFSP Evidence-Based Practices Project page.

NREPP Description

NNREPP is a searchable online registry of interventions for the prevention and treatment of mental and substance use disorders that have been reviewed and rated by independent reviewers. This registry is designed to assist practitioners in identifying interventions that have been scientifically tested and can be readily disseminated to the field. It includes preventive interventions and psychosocial (but not somatic) mental health treatments. NREPP is funded and managed by the Substance and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The NREPP review and dissemination process operates independently of the BPR; however, all suicide interventions listed by NREPP also will be included in Section Ia of the BPR.

Originally launched in 1997 as the National Registry of Effective Prevention Programs, the system was extensively revised and expanded by SAMHSA in 2004. The current version of NREPP was launched in mid-2006. Among other changes, the new system no longer categorizes programs as "Model," "Effective," or "Promising" and instead provides ratings and intervention summaries intended to help potential users of these interventions better understand their scientific evidence base. The NREPP web site provides more detail about changes to the system.

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NREPP Eligibility and Review Criteria

A brief overview of SAMHSA's submission and review criteria for NREPP can be found below. Detailed information can be found at the NREPP web site.

Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible for NREPP review, an intervention must

  1. demonstrate one or more positive outcomes (p≤.05) in mental health and/or substance use behavior;
  2. have results published in a peer-reviewed publication or documented in a comprehensive evaluation report; and
  3. have publicly available documentation (e.g., manuals, process guides, tools, training materials) describing the intervention and its proper implementation.

Review Criteria: Interventions are scored in two general areas:

  1. Quality of Research ratings summarize the amount and general quality of the evidence supporting the conclusion that the intervention, rather than other factors, produced the reported results or outcomes. Each outcome is scored separately since interventions may target multiple outcomes (e.g., alcohol use, marijuana use, behavior problems in school). Quality of Research is rated using six criteria: reliability, validity, intervention fidelity, missing data and attrition, potential confounding variables, and appropriateness of analysis.
  2. Readiness for Dissemination ratings summarize the amount and general quality of the resources available to support the use of the intervention. Ratings are based on the availability of implementation materials, training and support resources, and quality assurance procedures.

Intervention Summary and Ratings
NREPP posts a detailed summary for each listed intervention that describes the intervention, provides the Quality of Research and Readiness for Dissemination ratings along with strengths and weaknesses in each area, and lists contact information. NREPP encourages practitioners to use the database as a "decision support tool" to inform program development rather than an authoritative list of effective interventions.

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To Apply to NREPP

NREPP submissions must be made directly to SAMHSA according to their submission instructions. Submissions must be made during an open submission period, which are typically 3 or 4 months long and fall at the beginning of a fiscal year. Open submission dates are announced on the NREPP site and in the Federal Register.

The NREPP website has posted the following announcement: “Due to the large number of interventions already accepted for review, NREPP will not be accepting new submissions until October 1, 2009.”
(See: http://www.nrepp.samhsa.gov/submit.htm.)

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Review Process and Application Procedures

Submissions must be made during an open submission period, which are typically 3 or 4 months long and fall at the beginning of a fiscal year. Open submission dates are announced on the NREPP site and in the Federal Register.

**Note: In FY08, the 4-month period for receipt of NREPP submissions is from October 1, 2007 to February 1, 2008. Priority review areas include drug-related suicide and preventing suicide in specific age groups (i.e., adolescents, young adults, elders). See the Federal Register dated June 4, 2007 (PDF) for detailed information.

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SPRC/AFSP Technical Assistance for NREPP Submissions

Although NREPP is operated independently by SAMHSA, SPRC/AFSP staff members are available to provide technical assistance for program developers wishing to submit their suicide prevention programs for NREPP review. Program developers are encouraged to contact Philip Rodgers or Linda Langford for assistance.

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List of NREPP-Reviewed Suicide Interventions

The following interventions addressing suicide currently are listed on the NREPP registry:

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