3. Suicide deaths, Australia 1993

• Age and sex distribution
• Trends in death rates
• State and Territory differences
• Means of suicide
• Youth Suicide - international comparisons

• Suicides were more numerous than road deaths.
• Most were young adult males.
• The upward trends for young males may have levelled off.

Table 3.1 Key indicators

Age and sex distribution

The all-ages male rate was more than 4 times higher than the female rate. Male rates were highest at ages 20-34 and 80 or more years. Half of all suicides were males aged 15-44 years. Less than 3% of all suicides were males aged 80 years or older.

Trends in death rates

The age-adjusted rate of suicide deaths registered in 1993 was the lowest since 1985 for males and the lowest since 1948 for females. In Figure 3.2, the lower line for males and for females shows trends in the rates of deaths registered as suicide. Some deaths registered as being of "undetermined intent" (E980-989) may also be suicides. The upper line in each pair includes these as well. A national target is to "reduce by 15% expected Australian suicide rates over 10 years".[1] No baseline year or rate was specified. In Figure 3.2, values 15% below 1992 rates for suicide (excluding "undetermined intent" deaths) have been shown as indicative targets. The female target was reached in 1993. Over half the targeted drop in the male rate has been achieved. Rates for young males rose rapidly during the decade to 1990, continuing an increase that began about 1960. There was no further rise during the three years after 1990. (Rates for young females have not risen.)

State and Territory differences

The suicide rate for Tasmania was above the national rate throughout the period shown, most markedly so in 1992 and 1993. The NT rate in 1993 was as high as the Tasmanian rate, but it was not significantly higher than the national rate, due to small numbers. The NT rate has fluctuated above and below the national rate. The ACT rate was low in 1993 after several years close to the national rate. Rates in Figure 3.3 are based on place of death registration. Rates based on place of usual residence were 22% higher for the ACT and 6% lower for the NT. All-age rates for males resident in capital cities are similar to those for rural and remote area residents. At ages 15-29 and 40-59, rates are higher for males living in rural and remote areas. Female rates are a little higher in capital cities than elsewhere (see Australian Injury Prevention Bulletin, Issue 8: The spatial distribution of injury deaths in Australia[3]).

Means of suicide

Male and female rates of suicide by poisoning with solid and liquid substances are similar. For females, the tail-end of the epidemic of barbiturate deaths, which peaked in the mid-1960s, can be seen in the early 1980s. Rates of suicide by other means are higher for males than for females. Firearms, long the commonest means for suicide by males, have been equalled in frequency by hanging. The rate of male suicide by means of motor-vehicle exhaust gas increased during the 1980s. Rates of female suicide involving solid and liquid poisons, and firearms, have tended to decline. Rates of female suicide by other means do not show such clear trends.

Youth Suicide - international comparisons

In terms of reported rates of suicide at ages 15-24 years, Australia ranks in the upper one-third among the main industrialised countries for which data are available.	In common with the main English-speaking countries, and a few other countries, youth suicide rates in Australia have risen greatly since the 1950s. The rise has been faster than the rise in all-ages suicide rates.

3. Moller J. The spatial distribution of injury deaths in Australia: urban, rural and remote areas. Australian Injury Prevention Bulletin 8, December 1994.