Suicide in Australia

Suicide in Australia, as in other countries around the globe, is a major problem. Suicide, or the killing of oneself, can have a devastating effect on family and friends. It can also hurt wider communities and, on a broader scale, all countries and people. In Australia, suicides accounted for about 2 per cent of all deaths in 2019. Although that may appear to be a statistically small figure, suicides are frequently among the most traumatic deaths and can cause long-term problems for survivors. Additionally, experts believe suicides are essentially preventable, making those that occur seem even more tragic.

Background

Suicide is a serious problem in countries around the world, including Australia. Experts have long studied suicide, its causes and its rates of incidence. They have identified many factors that may contribute to people having suicidal feelings or actions. One of the most common factors includes mental illnesses, such as depression or anxiety, which can make people feel hopeless and believe that life is not worth all the sadness and worry. Physical illnesses may also play a role. For example, a person with a serious disease or a major disability may experience ongoing pain and seemingly endless obstacles. Eventually, these troubles may become overwhelming, leading to thoughts of suicide.

Trauma and stressful life events may also serve as triggers for suicidal tendencies. Stress may be of the ongoing everyday type, of people struggling to meet stringent demands. The stress may also be the more intense anxiety caused by tragic events, violence or abuse. Stress can erode a person’s quality of life and make continued existence feel like an unmanageable burden. Drug and alcohol abuse and poor living conditions are other factors that can lead people to feelings of instability and hopelessness, and ultimately to thoughts of killing themselves.

Despite the seriousness and prevalence of suicide, experts believe that suicide may be preventable if people at risk can be helped in time. Emergency counselling has stopped numerous planned suicide attempts. Many other precautions and protections can be beneficial even before serious suicidal thoughts form. Many of these take place within the individual. Having a strong sense of control over oneself, and a belief in the purpose of one’s life, can build strong emotional foundations that can prevent self-destructive thoughts. Outside factors may also be crucial for suicide prevention. Having caring and supportive relationships with family and friends is deeply important and helpful to most people. In addition, knowing that outside help is available—whether that is simply talking with a concerned friend or seeking professional assistance—can greatly reduce suicide risk.

Topic Today

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, suicide is statistically an uncommon cause of death. In 2019, suicides accounted for about two per cent of all deaths. That translates to 3,318 individuals, or 2,502 males and 816 females. Despite this apparently small proportion, suicides are frequently some of the most traumatic and harmful deaths. They often involve young and otherwise seemingly healthy individuals: suicide is the main cause of death for people between fifteen and forty-four years old. Suicides can destroy families and relationships. Sometimes they occur apparently without warning and may leave survivors full of questions and feeling sadness, guilt and a host of other negative emotions. In addition, suicide attempts, even if unsuccessful, may cause a variety of other problems and traumas. Some 65,000 Australians attempt suicide each year.

Suicide is not a new phenomenon in Australia. In fact, experts have monitored its incidence in detail for more than a century and have found that suicide in the early 1900s was even more common than it is in modern times. The highest rates of suicide in recorded Australian history occurred from around 1912 to 1931. Some peaks during that period occurred in 1913, 1915 and 1930. Later, although rates generally fell, peaks arose in 1963, 1967, 1987 and 1997. Historians have identified various social and economic events that could have greatly influenced these numbers. For example, the Great Depression that began in 1929 created economic woes that drove many people to desperation. Increases in illicit drug use during the 1960s may be related to the spikes during that decade.

Despite a significant drop in suicide rates about 2006, the rate has begun to rise again for both males and females. Across all statistics, in which male and female rates fluctuate more or less in unison, males retain a much higher incidence of death by suicide than females. The rate stands at approximately 75 per cent male to 25 per cent female. However, as of 2019, experts find that females are more likely than males to harm themselves on purpose, with or without the intention of killing themselves. In modern times, most Australians who commit suicide are in the middle of the average lifespan: about 55 per cent are aged thirty to fifty-nine years old. Meanwhile, about 23 per cent are aged fifteen to twenty-nine, and about 21 per cent are sixty or older.

The methods of suicide vary greatly and change through time, though experts have generally classified them as gas, non-gas poisons, firearms and hanging. From the first official records in 1907 until 1997, poisoning with substances other than gas was the main form of suicide among females. This rate declined after emissions controls reduced the amount of deadly chemicals in motor vehicle gasoline. From 1907 until the late 1980s, firearms were the main method of suicide for males, though this rate sharply dropped following strict gun control legislation in the late 1980s through mid-1990s. In the twenty-first century, hanging has become the primary form of suicide for both sexes.

Suicide rates may vary based on many factors, such as location and ethnic background. In more urbanized areas, such as New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory, suicide rates tend to be below the national average. Meanwhile, suicide is most common in the Northern Territory. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people commit suicide at approximately twice the rate of other Australians. As discovered by the historical studies, suicide rates are also closely tied to social and economic conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, for example, disturbed social norms around the globe, created financial chaos and necessitated lengthy periods of isolation. Many experts were concerned that suicide rates for 2020 and beyond would rise as a result.

Bibliography

“Data and Statistics.” Lifeline, www.lifeline.org.au/resources/data-and-statistics/. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.

“Facts About Suicide in Australia.” Black Dog Institute, 2020, www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/resources-support/suicide-self-harm/facts-about-suicide-in-australia/. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.

Judd, Bridget. “It Takes a Village.” ABC News, 23 Sept. 2020, www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-24/youth-suicide-north-coast-nsw-it-takes-a-village/12540450?nw=0. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.

Pratt, Rodney and Jenny Ky. “Gus Worland Talks Mental Health During COVID and the Alarming Rate of Suicide in Australia.” 7News / The Morning Show, 6 Aug. 2020, 7news.com.au/the-morning-show/gus-worland-talks-mental-health-during-covid-and-the-alarming-rate-of-suicide-in-australia-c-1221236. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.

“Suicide & Self-Harm Monitoring Data.” Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2020, www.aihw.gov.au/suicide-self-harm-monitoring/data/suicide-self-harm-monitoring-data. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.

“Suicide Facts and Stats.” Life in Mind, 2020, lifeinmind.org.au/about-suicide/suicide-data/suicide-facts-and-stats. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.

“Suicide in Australia.” Australian Department of Health, Jan. 2014, www1.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/Content/suicide-prevention-activities-evaluation~background~suicide-in-australia. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.

Wahlquist, Calla and Josh Taylor. “Suicides Haven’t Risen in Victoria in 2020 but Covid Welfare Cuts Ahead Cause Concern.” The Guardian, 27 Aug. 2020, www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/aug/27/victorian-suicide-rates-lower-than-feared-but-coming-covid-welfare-cuts-cause-concern. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.