Diego De Leo1, Jerneja Sveticic, Allison Milner. 1. Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, 176 Messines Ridge Road, Mount Gravatt Campus, Griffith University, Mount Gravatt 4122 Queensland, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Suicide among Indigenous Australians is a well-recognized public health issue. Due to scarcity of epidemiological investigations in this area the exact size of this problem and its main characteristics remain uncertain. In this paper we present trends and methods of Indigenous suicides based on the Queensland Suicide Register for the period 1994-2007. METHODS: Trends of age-standardized suicide rates were calculated for Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. Suicide methods were compared between the two groups, with particular focus on hanging. Discriminant analysis was used to ascertain the size of under-estimation of suicide rates due to a considerable number of cases with unknown ethnicity in the Queensland Suicide Register. RESULTS: Between 1994 and 2007, Indigenous populations had suicide rates 2.2 times higher than non-Indigenous Australians. Age-specific suicide rates for Indigenous men were highest in the 25-34 age group, while in women they were highest among 15-24 year olds. In children younger than 15 years, Indigenous suicide rate was almost ten times higher than of non-Indigenous counterparts. More than 90% of Indigenous suicides occurred by hanging. It was estimated that lack of information about ethnicity for 7% of suicide cases might have caused an under-estimation of Indigenous suicide mortality for 15.4% in men and 9.1% in women in the period 1994-2007. CONCLUSIONS: Suicide mortality of Indigenous Australians has reached alarming levels, particularly among youths. The unique profile of Indigenous suicides indicates the need for specifically tailored preventative programmes.
OBJECTIVE: Suicide among Indigenous Australians is a well-recognized public health issue. Due to scarcity of epidemiological investigations in this area the exact size of this problem and its main characteristics remain uncertain. In this paper we present trends and methods of Indigenous suicides based on the Queensland Suicide Register for the period 1994-2007. METHODS: Trends of age-standardized suicide rates were calculated for Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. Suicide methods were compared between the two groups, with particular focus on hanging. Discriminant analysis was used to ascertain the size of under-estimation of suicide rates due to a considerable number of cases with unknown ethnicity in the Queensland Suicide Register. RESULTS: Between 1994 and 2007, Indigenous populations had suicide rates 2.2 times higher than non-Indigenous Australians. Age-specific suicide rates for Indigenous men were highest in the 25-34 age group, while in women they were highest among 15-24 year olds. In children younger than 15 years, Indigenous suicide rate was almost ten times higher than of non-Indigenous counterparts. More than 90% of Indigenous suicides occurred by hanging. It was estimated that lack of information about ethnicity for 7% of suicide cases might have caused an under-estimation of Indigenous suicide mortality for 15.4% in men and 9.1% in women in the period 1994-2007. CONCLUSIONS: Suicide mortality of Indigenous Australians has reached alarming levels, particularly among youths. The unique profile of Indigenous suicides indicates the need for specifically tailored preventative programmes.
Authors: Thomas Adriano Lazzarini; Crhistinne Cavalheiro Maymone Gonçalves; Walter Martins Benites; Liliane Ferreira da Silva; Daniel Henrique Tsuha; Albert Icksang Ko; Robert Rohrbaugh; Jason Randolph Andrews; Julio Croda Journal: Rev Saude Publica Date: 2018-05-17 Impact factor: 2.106
Authors: Janya McCalman; Roxanne Bainbridge; Sandra Russo; Katrina Rutherford; Komla Tsey; Mark Wenitong; Anthony Shakeshaft; Chris Doran; Susan Jacups Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2016-02-01 Impact factor: 3.295