Bulletin 23 - Suicide in Australia: Trends and data for 1998
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Suicide in Australia:
Trends and data for 1998
James E Harrison
Malinda Steenkamp
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Suicide is becoming relatively more prominent as a cause of `external cause' deaths, mainly because deaths from motor vehicle crashes and other `external causes' are declining and because the all-ages suicide rate for males have tended to increase in recent years.
Long-term trends for female suicide rates remained fairly stable over time, except for the large increase in the 1960s, which was followed by a decrease.
Suicide case numbers and rates rose by about 9% from 1996 to 1997, a large increase but less than the 14% increase in the number of suicide registrations.
A further rise of about 1% is likely to have occurred from 1997 to 1998.
The rise in suicide is largely an increase for males aged 20 to 39 years.
Rates for males aged 15-19 years have not risen in recent years.
Hanging has become the dominant means for suicide and use of this means is accelerating. Rates of suicide by hanging remain much higher for males than females, but are increasing for both genders.
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More than 2,500 people die by suicide in Australia each year. This report
reviews suicide trends to 1998, presents a summary of suicides registered in
1998 and discusses some issues relating to registration of suicide cases.
Communications
Inquiries, comments and letters are welcome. Please address those concerning this Issue to:
Malinda Steenkamp
AIHW National Injury Surveillance Unit
Research Centre for Injury Studies
Flinders University of South Australia
Mail: Mark Oliphant Building, Laffer Drive, Bedford Park, South Australia
5042.
Phone: (08) 83740970
Fax: (08) 82017602
E-mail: Malinda.Steenkamp@nisu.flinders.edu.au
This publication is copyright. However, it may be reproduced with proper
acknowledgment. The suggested citation is:
Harrison, JE & Steenkamp M. 2000. Suicide in Australia: Trends and data for 1998. Australian Injury Prevention Bulletin 23. Adelaide: AIHW National Injury Surveillance Unit, Flinders University of South Australia.
ISSN 1443-8216
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