Changing patterns of suicide in Australia, 1910-1977.

Presented for the period 1910-1977 were the sex specific annual age standaradised suicide rates for Australia, together with age-sec specific rates and methods of suicide. During this time there was marked changes in male rates, the changes mainly occuring during four periods - 1910-19, 1925-40, 1940-49 and 1955-77. The changes in female rates were less marked and confined chiefly to 1955-77. There has been a drop in suicide rates since the mid 1960's in all age groups, except in males aged 15-29 years whose rate has steadily rise. Methods of suicide have changed considerably during the period 1910-77. There was no evidence found to sustain the hypothesis that elimination of a common suicide method resulted in a sustained lower overall suicide rate. Current theories of suicide causation were often found to be inadequate to explain many of the findings. It is suggested that we need to develop radically different approaches to the aetiology of suicide.