Concept Mapping for Suicide Prevention

What is it?

Concept mapping is a research technique. It allows a group of stakeholders to express their ideas on a topic and then study these ideas as they relate to one another. This technique produces diagrams that illustrate the ideas, their relationships, and their characteristics such as importance and feasibility.

How is it done?

Concept mapping may be conducted manually, electronically, or by a combination of manual and electronic methods. Concept mapping is done in three phases:

1. Brainstorm
2. Sort and rate
3. Analysis and feedback

Phase 1 begins with a structured brainstorming process. Participants respond to a prompt worded to solicit ideas to meet the groups objective. An example of a prompt is “There would be fewer suicides in our community if...”

In Phase 2, participants sort the responses into categories or clusters. Participants then rate the responses for characteristics such as importance and feasibility.

In Phase 3, a well-established statistical procedure is applied to generate diagrams that reveal patterns and relationships between the ideas.¹ For example, a diagram may show that one cluster is more feasible than other clusters. Diagrams also reveal patterns between groups of stakeholders. For example, a diagram may indicate a significant difference between what two sub-groups consider important. At the end of Phase 3, stakeholders receive and discuss the diagrams and possible solutions.

Why do it?

Concept mapping is a technique for identifying actions that reflect a group’s consensus. Stakeholders participate equally and all voices are heard. The technique is used by both newly formed and long standing groups who wish to learn about what is important to the members and to expedite the development of action plans.