Suicide Prevention
The sources listed below provide statistical information about levels of, and trends in, suicide in Australia.
To assist people to understand statistical information concerning suicide and self-harm in Australia, Auseinet has produced several information papers available to download:
Australian Suicide Statistics 2005 - Key Findings(based on data released by the ABS, March 2007)
Australian Self-harm Statistics - Key Findings
(based on data released by the AIHW, January
2007)
Caution: The quality of suicide statistics are affected by a number of factors including under-reporting, differences in reporting methods across states and territories, and the length of time it takes for Coroners to process deaths that are reported as potential suicides. Particular issues in relation to delays in coronial processes are believed to explain at least part of the observed decline in national suicide numbers in recent years. Furthermore, a number of changes occurred in the coding and classification methods of deaths in Australia in 1997. Thus extreme caution must be exercised when comparing suicide data over time.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
Information on deaths by suicide can be found in a number of ABS publications, with these data sourced from the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in each state and territory. In addition, the ABS supplements these data with information from the National Coroners Information Service (NCIS).
Suicides, Australia is the key source of primary data about death by suicides and is released annually (ABS catalogue 3309.0). Statistics are presented on suicide deaths in Australia over a ten-year period by age, sex, method of suicide, and state and territory. The ratio of suicide deaths to total deaths is also provided. The latest data pertain to 2005.
Causes of Death, Australia is released annually (ABS catalogue 3303.0) and includes details on the causes of death of all deaths registered in Australia in a particular year. Information on deaths by suicide (referred to as 'death by intentional self-harm' in this publication) is included and, unlike the Suicides publication (see above), details on the number of suicides among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in selected states and territories are provided. The latest data pertain to 2005.
For historical information on trends in recorded levels of suicide, see the ABS publication:
Suicides: 1921-1998
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)
In conjunction with the Research Centre for Injury Studies , AIHW releases, on an irregular basis, a number of statistical publications that provide information on suicide. These reports are based on the mortality data compiled by the Australian Bureau of Statistics
The most recent AIHW report that provides data on suicide is Injury Deaths, Australia, 2003-04.
Although somewhat dated, the Suicide and Hospitalised Self-harm in Australia report provides additional contextual information on suicide deaths (in 1998) and a discussion on the comparability of suicide data over time. In addition, this report provides information about rates of hospitalised self-harm in 1997/98 and includes a discussion on methods of self harm. Somehat more recent statistics on hospitalised self harm can be found in the report Hospital Separation due to Injury and Poisoning, Australia 2003-04.
A new source of data on suicide deaths (available in relation to 1 July 2000 onwards) is based on the National Coroners Information System, which is managed by the Monash University Centre for Coronial Information. This data source has the potential to provide more detailed information on the circumstances surrounding suicide deaths. A discussion on suicide data within this data source, as compared with that provided by the ABS, can be found in The National Coroners Information System as an Information Tool for Injury Surveillance.
Other
National data on suicides in prisons (for 1980 to 1998) are available in an Australian Institute of Criminology report entitled Suicide in prison 1980 to 1998: national overview
An international comparison of suicide rates and recent trends and implications for Australia has been conducted by the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention (2003). As discussed in the report there are many problems inherent in comparing suicide rates across countries and thus extreme care must be taken when utilising the information.