15Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A D D T I O N A L I N F O R M A T I O N

14Suicide by state or territory, number of deaths, SMR and ISDR . . . . . . . . . . .13Suicide by method, number of deaths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Suicide, age-specific death rates, 10 year age groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Suicide, age-specific death rates, 5 year age groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Suicide, number of deaths, 5 year age groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

T A B L E S

8State and territory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Method of suicide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Selected age groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Overall trends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

S U M M A R Y O F R E S U L T S

2Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page

C O N T E N T S

E M B A R G O : 1 1 . 3 0 A M ( C A N B E R R A T I M E ) W E D 1 5 D E C 2 0 0 4

SUICIDES: RECENT TRENDS,AUSTRALIA

3309.0.55.0011 9 9 3 T O 2 0 0 3

! For further informationabout these and relatedstatistics, contact theNational Informationand Referral Service on1300 135 070.

I N Q U I R I E S

w w w . a b s . g o v . a u

This publication presents summary statistics on deaths registered in Australia where the

underlying cause of death was determined to be suicide. These statistics were compiled

from data made available to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) by the Registrar of

Births, Deaths and Marriages in each State or Territory. Data are presented for suicide

deaths registered in the years 1993 to 2003, by sex and age group and method of suicide.

State and territory death rates from suicide are also presented.

AB O U T TH I S PU B L I C A T I O N

World Health OrganizationWHO

International Classification of Diseases, 9th RevisionICD-9

International Classification of Diseases 10th RevisionICD-10

International Classification of DiseasesICD

Australian Bureau of StatisticsABSAB B R E V I A T I O N S

De n n i s T r e w i n

Au s t r a l i a n S t a t i s t i c i a n

2 A B S • SU I C I D E S : R E C E N T T R E N D S , A U S T R A L I A • 3 3 0 9 . 0 . 5 5 . 0 0 1 • 1 9 9 3 T O 2 0 0 3

N O T E S

There were 2213 deaths from suicide registered in 2003. This number was a slight

decrease from 2320 registered in the previous year.

Age standardisation allows comparison of rates between populations with different age

structures. The age-standardised suicide rate (for persons) in 2003 was 6% lower than

the corresponding rate for the previous year and 24% lower than the peak for the period

1993-2003, which occurred in 1997.

For males, in many age groups, there was a decline in age-specific suicide rates following

peaks in the years 1997 and 1998. The age-standardised suicide rate for total males (17.7

per 100,000) in 2003 was lower than in any year in the previous decade (1993-2002).

Similarly for females, there were declines in rates for some age groups over this period

and the age-standardised suicide rate for total females (4.7 per 100,000) in 2003 was the

lowest since 1994.

Throughout the period 1993 to 2003 the male age-standardised suicide death rate was

approximately four times higher than the corresponding female rate.

OV E R A L L TR E N D S

Suicide continues to be a major public health issue. Although death by suicide is a

relatively uncommon event (in 2003, 1.7% of all deaths registered were attributed to

suicide), the human and economic costs are substantial. Suicide can be defined as the

deliberate taking of one's life1. To be classified as a suicide a death must be recognised as

being due to other than natural causes. It must also be established by coronial enquiry

that the death resulted from a deliberate act of the deceased with the intention of ending

his or her own life.

This publication contains summary statistics on deaths registered in Australia between

1993 and 2003 (the latest year for which data are available), where the underlying cause

of death was determined as suicide. Data on deaths from suicide are presented

disaggregated by sex, age, method of suicide and state or territory of usual residence. All

data are presented by year of registration, rather than the year in which the death

occurred. Most suicide deaths are registered in the same year in which the death

occurred, or the year immediately following.

Changes in suicide numbers from year to year may be influenced by adminstrative

processes involved in the coding of deaths. For example, where coronial investigations

are not complete at the time of coding of causes of death, the intent is coded as

accidental, and hence the death will not be counted as suicide. Some delays experienced

in processing deaths for the 2003 registration year may have resulted in decreased

numbers of registered deaths due to suicide. At least part of the decrease in numbers

and rates for suicide in 2003 shown in this publication may be attributed to these factors.

I N T R O D U C T I O N

A B S • SU I C I D E S : R E C E N T T R E N D S , A U S T R A L I A • 3 3 0 9 . 0 . 5 5 . 0 0 1 • 1 9 9 3 T O 2 0 0 3 3

S U M M A R Y O F R E S U L T S

1 Butterworth Concise Australian Legal Dictionary, 1997

The highest age-specific suicide death rate for both males and females in 2003 was

observed in the 30-34 years age group (30.1 per 100,000 for males and 9.1 per 100,000 for

females).

The lowest age-specific suicide death rate for males in 2003 was observed in the 15-19

years age group (12.7 per 100,000). For females low rates occurred in the 75 years and

over age group and in the 15-24 years age group.

Rates for 1993 are also presented in the graph below for comparison. See also Table2

Age-specif ic rates

15-19 25-29 35-39 45-49 55-59 65-69 75 and overAge group (years)

no.

0

50

100

150

200

250 Males 1993Males 2003Females 1993Females 2003

SUICIDE, NUMBER OF DEATHS, 1993 AND 2003

When considering numbers of suicide deaths by age and sex in 1993 and 2003, it is clear

that most suicide deaths occurred in males aged between 20 and 49 years. Changes in

the age and sex distribution of suicide deaths over this period were evident (see graph

below). Numbers of suicide deaths by age and sex for each year are presented in Table 1.

Number of deaths

(a) Age-standardised rate per 100,000. Standardised to the estimated resident populationat 30 June 2001.

1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003Year of registration

Rate(a)

0

5

10

15

20

25MalesFemales

AGE-STANDARDISED DEATH RATES FOR SUICIDEOV E R A L L TR E N D S continued

4 A B S • SU I C I D E S : R E C E N T T R E N D S , A U S T R A L I A • 3 3 0 9 . 0 . 5 5 . 0 0 1 • 1 9 9 3 T O 2 0 0 3

S U M M A R Y O F R E S U L T S continued

! In this age group, in 2003, suicide accounted for a total of 187 registered deaths,

corresponding to age-specific rates of 23.3 for males, 3.7 for females and 13.7 per

100,000 for persons. This rate (for persons) was lower in 2003 than the

corresponding rate for any year in the previous decade.

! Suicide accounted for 26.1% of total male deaths and 11.6% of total female deaths

registered in this age group, in 2003.

20-24 years age group

! In this age group, in 2003, suicide accounted for a total of 113 registered deaths,

corresponding to age-specific rates of 12.7 for males, 3.6 for females and 8.3 per

100,000 for persons. This rate (for persons) was lower in 2003 than for any year in

the previous decade (1993-2002).

! Suicide accounted for 19.9% of total male deaths and 13.1% of total female deaths

registered in this age group, in 2003.

15-19 years age group

The following section presents summary statistics for both males and females in selected

age groups. In addition, graphs of selected age-specific rates are included to show trends

over 1993-2003.

Age-specific rates are also presented in Tables 2 and 3. It is important to note that small

numbers of suicide deaths in specific age and sex groups contribute to fluctuations in

age-specific suicide death rates from year to year.

SE L E C T E D AG E GR O U P S

(a) Rate per 100,000 estimated resident population.

15-19 25-29 35-39 45-49 55-59 65-69 75 and overAge group (years)

Rate(a)

0

10

20

30

40 Males 1993Males 2003Females 1993Females 2003

AGE-SPECIF IC SUIC IDE RATES 1993 AND 2003Age-specif ic rates

continued

A B S • SU I C I D E S : R E C E N T T R E N D S , A U S T R A L I A • 3 3 0 9 . 0 . 5 5 . 0 0 1 • 1 9 9 3 T O 2 0 0 3 5

S U M M A R Y O F R E S U L T S continued

! In this age group, in 2003, suicide accounted for a total of 392 registered deaths,

corresponding to age-specific rates of 22.1 for males, 6.8 for females and 14.4 per

100,000 for persons.

! Suicide accounted for 7.4% of total male deaths and 3.7% of total female deaths

registered in this age group, in 2003.

45-54 years age group

(a) Rate per 100,000 estimated resident population.

1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003Year of registration

Rate(a)

0

10

20

30

40

50Males 25-34 yearsMales 35-44 yearsFemales 25-34 yearsFemales 35-44 years

AGE-SPECIF IC SUICIDE RATES

! In this age group, in 2003, suicide accounted for a total of 483 registered deaths,

corresponding to age-specific rates of 25.6 for males, 6.8 for females and 16.1 per

100,000 for persons.

! Suicide accounted for 16.5% of total male deaths and 8% of total female deaths

registered in this age group, in 2003.

35-44 years age group

! In this age group, in 2003, suicide accounted for a total of 518 registered deaths,

corresponding to age-specific rates of 28.3 for males, 7.7 for females and 18.0 per

100,000 for persons.

! Suicide accounted for 27.2% of total male deaths and 17.6% of total female deaths

registered in this age group, in 2003.

25-34 years age group

(a) Rate per 100,000 estimated resident population.

1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003Year of registration

Rate(a)

0

10

20

30

40

50Males 20-24 yearsMales 15-19 yearsFemales 15-19 yearsFemales 20-24 years

AGE-SPECIF IC SUICIDE RATES20-24 years age group

continued

6 A B S • SU I C I D E S : R E C E N T T R E N D S , A U S T R A L I A • 3 3 0 9 . 0 . 5 5 . 0 0 1 • 1 9 9 3 T O 2 0 0 3

S U M M A R Y O F R E S U L T S continued

(a) Rate per 100,000 estimated resident population.

1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003Year of registration

Rate(a)

0

10

20

30

40

50Males 75 years & overMales 65-74 yearsFemales 65-74 yearsFemales 75 years & over

AGE-SPECIF IC SUICIDE RATES

! In this age group, in 2003, suicide accounted for a total of 132 registered deaths,

corresponding to age-specific rates of 22.9 for males, 3.2 for females and 11.1 per

100,000 for persons. This rate (for persons) was lower in 2003 than for any year in

the previous decade (1993-2002).

! Suicide accounted for less than 1% of total deaths registered in this age group, for

both males and females, in 2003.

75 years and over age

group

! In this age group, in 2003, suicide accounted for a total of 161 registered deaths,

corresponding to age-specific rates of 19.4 for males, 4.7 for females and 11.9 per

100,000 for persons.

! Suicide accounted for less than 1% of total deaths registered in this age group, for

both males and females, in 2003.

65-74 years age group

(a) Rate per 100,000 estimated resident population.

1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003Year of registration

Rate(a)

0

10

20

30

40

50Males 45-54 yearsMales 55-64 yearsFemales 45-54 yearsFemales 55-64 years

AGE-SPECIF IC SUICIDE RATES

! In this age group, in 2003, suicide accounted for a total of 213 registered deaths,

corresponding to age-specific rates of 15.0 for males, 5.9 for females and 10.5 per

100,000 for persons. This rate (for persons) was lower in 2003 than the

corresponding rate for any year in the previous decade (1993-2002).

! Suicide accounted for 2% of total male deaths and 1.3% of total female deaths

registered in this age group, in 2003.

55-64 years age group

A B S • SU I C I D E S : R E C E N T T R E N D S , A U S T R A L I A • 3 3 0 9 . 0 . 5 5 . 0 0 1 • 1 9 9 3 T O 2 0 0 3 7

S U M M A R Y O F R E S U L T S continued

Causes of Death, Australia (cat. no. 3303.0) - annual

Deaths, Australia (cat. no. 3302.0) - annual

Suicides 1921-1998 (cat. no. 3309.0)

Publicat ions:

Other ABS publications or articles that contain information on deaths from suicide are as

follows:

OT H E R AB S

PU B L I C A T I O N S

(a) Rate per 100,000. Age-and-sex-standardised using the indirect method (see glossary).

NSW Vic. Qld SA WA Tas. NT ACT Aust.

Rate(a)

0

5

10

15

20

25

SUICIDE BY STATE AND TERRITORY 1999-2003, Standard i sedrates (a)

Suicide rates in states and territories may fluctuate over time particularly in the smaller

jurisdictions because of the small number of suicides that may be registered annually.

Therefore caution should be exercised when comparing annual state and territory

suicide data (see Table 5). Other factors such as the ratio of urban to rural areas may also

explain some of the differences across states and territories given the higher rates of

suicide in rural areas. In addition, in the Northern Territory, the high rate of suicide in

the Indigenous population contributes to the high rate of suicide in that jurisdiction.

Combining data for five years allows more reliable comparison of suicide rates across the

states and territories. The following graph shows age-standardised suicide rates for the

states and territories using the most recent five years of data (1999-2003) combined.

Indirect standardisation (see glossary) was used to control for age and sex differences,

allowing more valid comparisons across the states and territories. For this period, high

rates were evident in the Northern Territory (77% above the national rate), followed by

Tasmania (18% above the national rate) and Queensland (15% above the national rate).

New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT all had rates lower than the national rate (see

Table 5).

ST A T E AN D TE R R I T O R Y

In 2003 the most common method of suicide was hanging, which was used in almost half

(45%) of all suicide deaths. The next most used methods were poisoning by 'other'

(including motor vehicle exhaust) (19%), Other (15%), poisoning by drugs (13%), and

methods using firearms (9%). This distribution was consistent with that of the previous

few years. However, over the decade strong trends were apparent such as the increase in

the use of hanging, and a decrease in methods using firearms. See Table 4 for data on

broad groupings of method of suicide.

ME T H O D OF SU I C I D E

8 A B S • SU I C I D E S : R E C E N T T R E N D S , A U S T R A L I A • 3 3 0 9 . 0 . 5 5 . 0 0 1 • 1 9 9 3 T O 2 0 0 3

S U M M A R Y O F R E S U L T S continued

Suicide (Australian Social Trends 2000, cat. no. 4102.0)

Youth suicide (Australian Social Trends 1994, cat. no. 4102.0)

Art ic les:

A Mortality Atlas of Australia (cat. no. 3318.0)

Trends in Mortality by Causes of Death in Australia, the States and Territories During

1971-92, and in Statistical Divisions and Sub-divisions During 1991-92 (cat. no. 3313.0)

Publicat ions: continued

A B S • SU I C I D E S : R E C E N T T R E N D S , A U S T R A L I A • 3 3 0 9 . 0 . 5 5 . 0 0 1 • 1 9 9 3 T O 2 0 0 3 9

S U M M A R Y O F R E S U L T S continued

(b) Includes deaths of persons aged under 15 years and age not stated.(a) Year of registration.

2 21313278838812514824424124229722118711320032 32014166799511918621028327028526119312420022 45414584769412919722026030531328121912020012 36314385768810917218627530128929220813020002 49214489809612218722225927229632725612419992 683136701079811818620026435033037029515119982 7201729110210412919219827427930235335515419972 393139918310711415320122429927628526714019962 36812868868813915720221627028928530712719952 258137839010611415018822422925124829213919942 08112780941041031211971612052462382701301993

PE R S O N S

477231320223736574557704125242003503381515213543517448564729272002519382013202857495365535538252001503302120222933346567495734412000490231217222040575648615544271999533392120233039335877535647351998577412225243251455864565960331997462272315192138504565474930261996495321423193141485450504955291995428371814242330384455424340171994394331920181928432753403836191993

FE M A L E S

1 736109656366881121871961852271801628920031 817103516474841431592092222292141649720021 9351076463741011401712072402602261819520011 860113645666801391522102342402351748920002 0021217763741021471652032242352722129719992 150974987758814716720627327731424811619982 1431316977809714115321621524629429512119971 9311126868889311515117923422923623711419961 873965463691081161541622202392362529819951 8301006576829112015018017420920525212219941 6879461748684931541341522062002341111993

MA L E S

All

ages(b)75 and

over70-7465-6960-6455-5950-5445-4940-4435-3930-3425-2920-2415-19

AGE GROUP (YEARS)

Yea r (a)

SUIC IDE, NUMBER OF DEATHS, 5 year age groups1

10 A B S • SU I C I D E S : R E C E N T T R E N D S , A U S T R A L I A • 3 3 0 9 . 0 . 5 5 . 0 0 1 • 1 9 9 3 T O 2 0 0 3

(c) Age-standardised rate per 100,000. Standardised to the estimated residentpopulation at 30 June 2001. Includes deaths of persons aged under 15 andage not stated.

(a) Deaths per 100,000 estimated resident population in each age group.(b) Year of registration.

11.111.112.311.510.110.811.317.415.716.619.516.213.78.3200311.812.210.411.311.211.014.315.218.718.319.019.014.59.1200212.613.013.211.111.412.815.116.217.620.421.320.016.88.9200112.313.413.411.211.011.313.713.919.020.020.320.116.19.8200013.214.014.211.812.513.215.416.718.218.021.022.419.79.5199914.313.811.315.613.213.416.015.318.923.423.425.322.311.7199814.718.114.914.814.315.117.515.319.918.821.224.326.112.0199713.115.315.112.015.113.815.115.516.520.519.120.119.110.9199613.114.711.512.512.417.316.116.116.219.019.820.721.510.0199512.816.414.313.114.914.616.215.517.016.417.118.220.310.9199411.915.514.413.714.513.613.616.912.414.916.817.418.710.01993

PE R S O N S

4.73.23.95.55.16.55.58.15.87.89.16.03.73.620035.05.54.54.25.06.56.67.49.76.57.46.84.44.120025.35.66.03.74.95.68.87.27.18.77.27.85.93.820015.24.66.35.85.56.15.35.08.98.96.87.85.36.320005.13.73.64.95.74.46.78.67.86.38.67.56.94.219995.66.46.35.76.26.96.85.08.310.27.57.67.25.619986.27.06.77.16.67.69.57.08.48.67.88.19.05.319975.14.87.04.25.35.27.67.86.68.96.56.94.44.219965.55.94.36.55.37.88.67.88.17.06.87.17.84.719954.87.15.73.96.76.06.66.46.77.95.76.35.62.719944.56.56.35.65.05.16.57.54.27.75.55.65.13.01993

FE M A L E S

17.722.921.517.715.015.117.126.925.725.530.126.323.312.7200318.822.516.818.617.315.322.023.227.830.330.831.124.213.9200220.324.521.118.817.919.721.525.328.232.435.832.227.413.8200119.827.221.416.916.516.321.922.829.231.333.932.526.613.1200021.630.426.118.919.221.723.924.928.829.833.537.332.114.6199923.225.517.025.920.219.624.825.529.736.639.442.936.917.6199823.636.124.522.822.122.325.323.531.529.234.640.542.818.5199721.532.424.620.224.922.222.223.126.532.231.833.233.417.4199621.129.220.018.819.526.623.424.224.330.932.734.134.815.1199521.031.724.622.923.123.125.324.327.325.028.430.034.518.6199419.630.624.322.424.021.920.425.920.522.228.229.232.016.71993

MA L E S

All

ages(c)75 and

over70-7465-6960-6455-5950-5445-4940-4435-3930-3425-2920-2415-19

AGE GROUP (YEARS)

Yea r (b)

SUIC IDE, AGE- SPECIF IC DEATH RATES (a) , 5 year age groups2

A B S • SU I C I D E S : R E C E N T T R E N D S , A U S T R A L I A • 3 3 0 9 . 0 . 5 5 . 0 0 1 • 1 9 9 3 T O 2 0 0 3 11

(a) Deaths per 100,000 estimated resident population in each age group.(b) Year of registration.(c) Age-standardised rate per 100,000. Standardised to the estimated resident population at 30

June 2001. Includes deaths of persons aged under 15 and age not stated.

11.111.111.910.514.416.118.011.0200311.812.210.811.114.818.519.011.8200212.613.012.112.215.719.020.712.8200112.313.412.311.213.819.520.212.9200013.214.012.912.916.118.121.714.6199914.313.813.613.315.621.224.317.1199814.718.114.814.716.319.322.819.3199713.115.313.414.415.318.619.615.2199613.114.712.015.016.117.620.216.1199512.816.413.614.715.816.717.615.9199411.915.514.014.015.413.717.114.61993

PE R S O N S

4.73.24.75.96.86.87.73.720035.05.54.45.97.08.17.14.320025.35.64.85.38.07.97.54.820015.24.66.05.95.28.97.35.820005.13.74.35.07.77.18.05.619995.66.46.06.65.99.37.66.419986.27.06.97.18.18.58.07.219975.14.85.65.27.77.86.74.319965.55.95.56.68.17.57.06.419954.87.14.86.36.57.36.04.319944.56.55.95.07.16.05.54.11993

FE M A L E S

17.722.919.415.022.125.628.318.0200318.822.517.716.222.629.030.919.0200220.324.519.918.923.430.334.020.4200119.827.219.016.422.430.233.219.7200021.630.422.320.624.429.335.423.3199923.225.521.819.925.233.241.227.4199823.636.123.622.224.330.337.631.0199721.532.422.223.422.729.432.525.7199621.129.219.323.323.927.833.425.4199521.031.723.623.124.726.129.227.0199419.630.623.322.923.521.428.724.71993

MA L E S

All

ages(c)75 and

over65-7455-6445-5435-4425-3415-24

AGE GROUP (YEARS)

Yea r (b)

SUIC IDE, AGE- SPECIF IC DEATH RATES (a) , 10 year age groups3

12 A B S • SU I C I D E S : R E C E N T T R E N D S , A U S T R A L I A • 3 3 0 9 . 0 . 5 5 . 0 0 1 • 1 9 9 3 T O 2 0 0 3

(a) See glossary for ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes used for categories of method of suicide.(b) Year of registration.(c) Includes poisoning by other gases and vapours (including motor vehicle exhaust).

(d) Includes strangulation and suffocation.(e) Includes explosives.(f) Includes drowning, smoke/fire/flames, sharp object, jumping from high place, jumping or lying before

moving object, other and unspecified means.

2 21333019499641527820032 3203312181 04543928720022 4543442621 05051328520012 36330422398957427320002 4923212701 02859527819992 6833352351 21758631019982 72042333098767130919972 39330938479258032819962 36837638969955634819952 25837242063949733019942 0813274355954622621993

PE R S O N S

477879176751302003503851119977131200251984201958613420015038010182102129200049094131601031201999533941718287153199857711621175116149199746268151209416519964951032311410115419954288720107721421994394951788671271993

FE M A L E S

1 73624318582034014820031 81724620784636215620021 93526024285542715120011 86022421380747214420002 00222725786849215819992 1502412181 03549915719982 14330730981255516019971 93124136967248616319961 87327336658545519419951 83028540053242518819941 6872324185073951351993

MA L E S

TotalOther(f)Firearms(e)Hanging(d)Poisoning

by other(c)Poisoning

by drugsYea r (b)

SUIC IDE BY METHOD (a) , number of deaths4

A B S • SU I C I D E S : R E C E N T T R E N D S , A U S T R A L I A • 3 3 0 9 . 0 . 5 5 . 0 0 1 • 1 9 9 3 T O 2 0 0 3 13

np not available for publication but included in totals where applicable, unless otherwiseindicated

(a) State or Territory of usual residence.(b) Year of registration.(c) Standardised mortality ratio (see glossary).(d) Indirect standardised death rate (see glossary).

12.211.221.714.413.012.714.011.111.31999–2003

PE R S O N S : I S D R (d)

1.000.921.771.181.061.041.150.910.931999–2003

PE R S O N S : SM R (c)

2 21335446922619346654064020032 32026557024217053752869220022 45446436426920749954178520012 36329425026119954151173020002 49245327823620048055286919992 68331425928724457957986219982 72042385125519653566993419972 39337356421818553950081519962 36834236621820049556676519952 25836197021716945551178119942 0812722832161663674977031993

PE R S O N S

477npnp1559399513113020035034111654301061421402002519124135739931291722001503451055381201291422000490105104445841121801999533npnp10534512513315719985771351149351011412221997462117104732881121551996495npnp153939991271721995428npnp729299011015219943944516433462941361993

FE M A L E S

1 736npnp5416715437140951020031 81722445418814043138655220021 93534395121216840641261320011 86025374020616142138258820002 00235276819215539644068919992 150npnp4923419945444670519982 14329334020616143452871219971 93126285417115345138866019961 873npnp5117916139643959319951 830npnp6318814036540162919941 6872317671731323054035671993

MA L E S

Aust.ACTNTTas.WASAQldVic.NSWYea r (b)

SUIC IDE BY STATE OR TERRITORY (a) , number of deaths , SMR and ISDR5

14 A B S • SU I C I D E S : R E C E N T T R E N D S , A U S T R A L I A • 3 3 0 9 . 0 . 5 5 . 0 0 1 • 1 9 9 3 T O 2 0 0 3

Standardised death rates enable the comparison of death rates between populations withdifferent age structures by relating them to a standard population. The ABS standardpopulations relate to the years ending in 1 (e.g. 2001). The current standard populationis all persons in the 2001 Australian population. They are expressed per 100,000 persons.

There are two methods of calculating standardised death rates:! The direct method — this is used when the populations under study are large and the

age-specific death rates are reliable. It is the overall death rate that would haveprevailed in the standard population if it had experienced at each age the death ratesof the population under study; and

Standardised death rate

Suicide refers to the deliberate taking of one's life2.To be classified as a suicide a deathmust be recognised as due to other than natural causes and established by a coronialinquiry that death results from a deliberate act of the deceased with the intention oftaking his or her own life.

Suicide

(a) includes motor vehicle exhaust(b) includes drowning, smoke/fire/flames, sharp object, jumping from high

place, jumping or lying before moving object, other and unspecified

X60 - X84E950 - E959All suicidesX71, X76 - X84E954, E956 - E959Other(b)

X72 - X75E955Firearms and explosivesX70E953

Hanging, strangulation, andsuffocation

X65 - X69E950.6 - E952.9Poisoning by 'other'(a)X60 - X64E950.0 - E950.5Poisoning by drugs

ICD-10 codesICD-9 codes

METHOD OF SUICIDE

In this publication, suicide deaths data for registration years 1993-1996 have been codedto ICD-9 while data for registration years 1997-2003 have been coded to ICD-10. Forsuicide deaths, ICD-9 and ICD-10 classifications are comparable. Codes for groupings ofmethods used in this publication are shown below.

Method of suicide

Estimated resident population (ERP) data are estimates of the Australian populationobtained by adding to the estimated resident population at the beginning of each periodthe components of natural increase ( on a usual residence basis) and net overseasmigration.

Estimated resident population

Death refers to any death which occurs in, or en route to Australia and is registered witha State or Territory Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Death

The crude death rate is the number of deaths registered during the calendar year per1,000 estimated resident population at 30 June.

Crude death rate

Causes of death recorded on death certificates are those diseases, morbid conditions, orinjuries which either resulted in or contributed to death. From the information providedon the death certificates an underlying cause of death is coded according to the rulesand guidelines of that particular revision of the International Classification of Diseases.

Causes of death

Age-specific death rates are the number of deaths registered (or occurred) during thecalendar year at a specified age per 100,000 of the estimated resident population of thesame age at mid-point of the year (30 June).

Age-specific death rate

A B S • SU I C I D E S : R E C E N T T R E N D S , A U S T R A L I A • 3 3 0 9 . 0 . 5 5 . 0 0 1 • 1 9 9 3 T O 2 0 0 3 15

G L O S S A R Y

2 Butterworth Concise Australian Legal dictionary, 1997

Data presented on year of registration basis relate to the date the death was registered.Year of Registration

Data presented on year of occurrence basis relate to the date the death occurred.Year of Occurrence

The underlying cause of death is the disease or injury which the doctor (or coroner)reported on the death certificate as being the cause that initiated the train of eventsleading directly to death, or the circumstances of the accident, or violence whichproduced the fatal injury.

Underlying Cause of Death

Possible suicides where the coroner concludes an ‘open’ finding and not explicitlysuicide are excluded from analysis in this publication. See explanatory notes in Suicides1921-1998 (ABS cat. no. 3309.0) for further explanation of deaths of undeterminedintent.

Undetermined intent

The ratio of the actual number of deaths in the population under study and the numberof deaths which would have occurred if the population under study had experienced theage-specific death rates of the standard population (see also standardised death rate, theindirect method).

Standardised mortality ratio(SMR)

! The indirect method — this is used when the populations under study are small andthe age-specific death rates are unreliable or not known. It is an adjustment to thecrude death rate of the standard population to account for the variation between theactual number of deaths in the population under study and the number of deathswhich would have occurred if the population under study had experienced theage-specific death rates of the standard population.

Standardised rates in this publication:! Five year age groups (0-4, 5-9, ... 85 & over) were used in the calculation of

standardised rates, and a small number of records where age at death was not statedwere excluded.

! For direct standardised rates the standard population used was the EstimatedResident Population (ERP) for Australia at June 2001.

! For age-and-sex standardised rates using the indirect method, expected deaths werecalculated by applying suicide rates for Australian males and females by 5 year agegroups for the period 1999-2003 to the estimated populations for States andTerritories for June 2001 (the mid-point of the period 1999-2003).

Standardised death ratecontinued

16 A B S • SU I C I D E S : R E C E N T T R E N D S , A U S T R A L I A • 3 3 0 9 . 0 . 5 5 . 0 0 1 • 1 9 9 3 T O 2 0 0 3

G L O S S A R Y continued

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© Commonwealth of Australia 2004Produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics