Suicides

Data table

Note

Comprises any intentional self-harm with fatal result; coding labelled: Suicide and self-inflicted injury in ICD-9 and Intentional self-harm in ICD10. Deaths were classified using ICD-9 up to 1998 and ICD-10 from 1999 onwards. Rates were age-adjusted using the Australian population as at 30 June 2001. Numbers for 2006 include an estimate of the small numbers of deaths that were registered in 2007, data for which were unavailable at the time of production.

Source

ABS mortality data and population estimates (HOIST). Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Department of Health.

Commentary

The most recent available data on deaths by suicide in NSW, by year of occurrence, are presented here. These figures may differ from figures reported in other sources. For further information see Methods.

The rate of suicide can fluctuate considerably from year to year, especially in small population groups.

In NSW in 2006, the death rate from suicide was 7.1 per 100,000 population (11.6 deaths per 100,000 in males and 2.9 in females), the lowest in 21 years. The death rate from suicide has decreased gradually from the high rates recorded in 1997 of 15.1 per 100,000 population (23.7 deaths per 100,000 population in males and 6.9 in females). The suicide death rate in males aged 15-24 years dropped by more than half, from 33.2 deaths per 100,000 in 1997 to 11.2 in 2006. In general, death rates from suicide are about three to four times greater in males than in females. This difference is thought to be due mostly to males using more lethal methods than females, as there is less difference in suicide attempts between sexes (OECD, 2003).

The current suicide rates in Australia (16.4 in males and 4.3 in females in 2005) are among the lowest since collections began in 1907 (excluding the World War II period). However, care should be taken in interpreting numbers of suicide deaths due to limitations in the data. The number of deaths recorded as intentional self harm (suicide) in Australia has decreased over the last 10 years, from 2720 in 1997 to 1799 in 2006. A reluctance by Coroners to make a determination of "suicide" and the high number cases with a status of "open" on the National Coronial Information System have an impact on suicide data. Where Coroners' cases are not finalised and the findings are not available in time for publication of causes of death statistics, deaths are coded to other accidental, ill-defined or unspecified causes rather than suicide (ABS 2008).

In 2003, Australia ranked in the middle of 30 OECD countries in terms of its death rate from suicide, which was 10.2 per 100,000 population (standardised to the OECD standard population, OECD, 2008).

A whole of government suicide prevention strategy has been implemented in NSW, along with a range of other early intervention and prevention in mental health strategies which contribute to a reduction in mental health problems. For example, the School-Link program (NSW Department of Health, 2003) supports young people with depression and related disorders.

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For more information

NSW Department of Health. Suicide prevention in NSW. Sydney: NSW Department of Health, 2003. Available at www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/s/pdf/well_suicide.pdf.

Steenkamp M, Harrison J. Suicide and hospitalised self-harm in Australia. Injury Research and Statistics Series. AIHW Catalogue no. INJCAT 30. Adelaide: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2000.

Policy Division. We need to know more: NSW suicide data report. Sydney: NSW Department of Health, 1999. Available at www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/.

NSW Government New South Wales Interagency Action Plan for Better Mental Health Sydney: Available at http://www.dpc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/11490/interagency.pdf

Australian Bureau of Statistics. Causes of Death, Australia 2006. Catalogue no. 3303.0. Canberra: ABS, 2008. Available at www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/2093DA6935DB138FCA2568A9001393C9

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Health at a glance. OECD indicators 2003. Paris: OECD, 2003.

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. OECD health data 2008. Paris: OECD, 2008.

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Suggested citation

Population Health Division. The health of the people of New South Wales - Report of the Chief Health Officer. Sydney: NSW Department of Health. Available at: www.health.nsw.gov.au/publichealth/chorep/. Accessed (insert date of access).

Produced by

Centre for Epidemiology and Research, Population Health Division, NSW Department of Health.

Last updated on 15 December 2008