Cate McHugh1, Sivasankaran Balaratnasingam2, Anita Campbell3, Murray Chapman2. 1. Psychiatry Registrar, Kimberley Population Health Unit, Australia; Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 2. Consultant Psychiatrist, Kimberley Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol Service, Broome, WA, and; University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia. 3. General practice Registrar, Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service, Broome, WA, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine the rate of presentations for suicidal ideation and deliberate self-harm in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, characterized in terms of age, gender, rates of repetition and engagement with community mental health services. METHODS: An observational study of health service presentations over 12 months. SETTING: 10 sites across the region with police services were included, capturing the overwhelming majority of self-harm presentations in the region. PARTICIPANTS: all Indigenous presentations were analyzed. Of the 433 individuals who presented, 361 were Indigenous. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: suicidal phenomena, including suicidal ideation and any type of deliberate self-harm regardless of intent. RESULTS: Analysis suggests a broadly similar age and sex stratification of self-harm in this population compared with international reports. The rates, however, are 5-20 times higher than those reported in non-Indigenous populations in Australia and abroad, depending on whether the comparison rate is calculated from population surveys or hospital presentations. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of suicidal phenomena is very high and is likely to be much higher than estimated by this hospital based study. Such high prevalence suggests that a population level intervention is required in addition to interventions involving clinical services.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the rate of presentations for suicidal ideation and deliberate self-harm in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, characterized in terms of age, gender, rates of repetition and engagement with community mental health services. METHODS: An observational study of health service presentations over 12 months. SETTING: 10 sites across the region with police services were included, capturing the overwhelming majority of self-harm presentations in the region. PARTICIPANTS: all Indigenous presentations were analyzed. Of the 433 individuals who presented, 361 were Indigenous. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: suicidal phenomena, including suicidal ideation and any type of deliberate self-harm regardless of intent. RESULTS: Analysis suggests a broadly similar age and sex stratification of self-harm in this population compared with international reports. The rates, however, are 5-20 times higher than those reported in non-Indigenous populations in Australia and abroad, depending on whether the comparison rate is calculated from population surveys or hospital presentations. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of suicidal phenomena is very high and is likely to be much higher than estimated by this hospital based study. Such high prevalence suggests that a population level intervention is required in addition to interventions involving clinical services.
Entities:
Keywords:
Indigenous; deliberate self-harm; remote mental health; suicidal ideation; young people
Authors: Katie McGill; Amir Salem; Tanya L Hanstock; Todd R Heard; Leonie Garvey; Bernard Leckning; Ian Whyte; Andrew Page; Greg Carter Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-09-27 Impact factor: 4.614