Intentional self-harm hospitalisations by socioeconomic areas

Hospitalisations data for patients with intentional self-harm injuries includes those with and without suicidal intent. For further information refer to the Technical notes.

Socioeconomic area classifies individuals according to the socioeconomic characteristics of the area in which they live. These areas are defined using the ABS Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage (IRSD), which reflects the average level of socioeconomic disadvantage of the area (see Technical notes for more information). 

The line graph shows age-specific rates of intentional self-harm hospitalisations from 2012–13 to 2022–23 by socioeconomic areas from Quintile 1, the most disadvantaged, to Quintile 5, the least disadvantaged. Users can also choose to view age-specific rates, numbers and proportion of hospitalisations for intentional self-harm by socioeconomic areas by sex and specific age groups.

Does socioeconomic area affect risk of hospitalisation for intentional self-harm?

Rates of hospitalisations for intentional self-harm tend to be higher for those living in lower socioeconomic (more disadvantaged) areas.  

In 2022–23:

  • the rate for the most disadvantaged areas (Quintile 1) was 126 hospitalisations per 100,000 population, which is 1.7 times the rate for the least disadvantaged areas (Quintile 5; 72 per 100,000 population).

A similar pattern was seen in suicide rates in 2021, see Suicide by socioeconomic areas.

How have rates of intentional self-harm hospitalisations changed for socioeconomic areas?

From 2012–13 to 2022–23:

  • the highest proportion of intentional self-harm hospitalisations was for people living in the lowest socioeconomic (most disadvantaged) areas; this proportion has remained relatively stable over the period, averaging around 24%
  • rates for males in the lowest socioeconomic areas, Quintile 1 and 2, increased from 122 and 100 hospitalisations per 100,000 in 2012–13 to 140 and 113 in 2016–17, respectively, before decreasing to 88 and 71 hospitalisations per 100,000 population in 2022–23
  • rates for females in the lowest (most disadvantaged) socioeconomic areas (Quintile 1) also increased from 189 in 2012–13 to 223 in 2016–17 and then decreased to 163 in 2022–23.

The highest age-specific rates of hospitalisations between 2012–13 and 2022–23 were recorded for those aged 25–44 for males and 0–24 for females, in the lowest socioeconomic areas (Quintile 1). 

  • Age-specific rates for intentional self-harm hospitalisations increased for all socioeconomic areas in females aged 0-24 from 2012–13 to 2020–21 before decreasing in 2021–22 and again in 2022–23.
  • Rates for females aged 25–44 in Quintile 1 increased from 256 per 100,000 population in 2012–13 to 294 in 2016–17 before falling to 193 in 2022–23.
  • Rates for males aged 25–44 in Quintile 1 ranged from 207 in 2012–13 to 230 in 2016–17 then fell to 142 in 2022–23.

An increase in the rate of hospitalisations due to intentional self-harm for all socioeconomic areas was reported in 2016–17, which may be due to increases in hospitalisations in some states. Variation in hospital admission policy and practices between states and territories may have contributed to differences in the reporting of hospitalisation data. For further information, see the data quality statement.