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Data from suicide registers

New South Wales

The New South Wales Suicide Monitoring System (NSW SuMS) was established in October 2020. The NSW SuMS is a collaboration between NSW Health, the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), the State Coroner and NSW Police. NSW Health publishes monthly reports on suspected and confirmed deaths by suicide occurring in New South Wales. Data on suspected deaths by suicide are an estimate, and numbers for the same period may differ slightly between reports as the coroners' determinations into the deaths are finalised. Caution is advised against drawing any conclusions about suicide trends in NSW based on short-term changes.

The latest NSW SuMS report for June 2024 shows that (NSW Health 2024):

  • A total of 936 suspected or confirmed suicide deaths was recorded for the full year in 2023. This was lower than the number of suicide deaths in 2022 (944) and higher than in 2021 (899), and 2020 (883).
  • 467 suspected deaths by suicide were recorded between 1 January and 30 June 2024. This compares to 474 suspected or confirmed suicide deaths for the same period in 2023, 479 in 2022, 458 in 2021 and 416 in 2020.

The number (frequency) of suspected or confirmed suicide deaths per month varies considerably from month to month, as can be seen in the visualisation below when the “Frequency” view is selected. The “Cumulative Frequency” view shows the year-to-date numbers of suicide deaths. From this view it appears that the increase in suicide numbers in 2022 began from around April 2022.

Frequency of suspected and confirmed deaths by suicide in New South Wales, by month, January 2019 to June 2024

The interactive data visualisation shows the number of suspected and confirmed deaths by suicide in New South Wales, by month. Viewing can be changed between frequency and cumulative frequency. An average trendline has been included.

The NSW SuMS also reports on suicide deaths by gender, age group and residential location (NSW Health 2024):

  • In 2023 there were 732 suspected or confirmed suicide deaths reported for males in NSW compared with 733 in 2022, 668 in 2021 and 661 in 2020.
  • For females, there were 204 suspected or confirmed suicide deaths in 2023, compared with 210 in 2022, 231 in 2021, and 222 in 2020.
  • Nearly four-fifths (78%) of suspected or confirmed suicide deaths in NSW in 2023 were among males. 
  • For males, the age groups of 45 to 54 years (147), 55 to 64 years (129), 35 to 44 years (121), and 25 to 34 years (114) recorded the largest number of suspected or confirmed suicide deaths, accounting for 20%, 18%, 17% and 16% of all male suicide deaths, respectively.
  • Similarly, for females, the age groups of 35 to 44 years (45), 25 to 34 years (34), 45 to 54 years (34) and 55 to 64 years (29) experienced the greatest number of suspected or confirmed deaths by suicide, accounting for 22%, 17%, 17% and 14% of all female suicide deaths, respectively.
  • In each year from 2019 to 2023, around half of suicide deaths in NSW occurred among residents of Greater Sydney, with the remainder comprising residents of the Rest of NSW and a small number of interstate/overseas residents.

Frequency of suspected and confirmed deaths by suicide in New South Wales, by age group and sex, and location, 2019 to 2023

The interactive data visualisation shows the number of suspected and confirmed deaths by suicide in New South Wales. The population group is divided by age groups, ranging from people under the age of 18 years to 85 years and over, and sex (males, females). Viewing by location of usual residence can also be selected.

Year-to-date data to 30 June 2024 from the SuMS show:

  • Males recorded 359 suspected deaths by suicide, compared to 379 for the same period in 2023, 373 in 2022, 344 in 2021 and 320 in 2020.
  • Females recorded 108 suspected deaths by suicide, compared with 95 for the same period in 2023, 105 in 2022, 114 in 2021 and 96 in 2020.

Frequency of suspected and confirmed deaths by suicide in New South Wales, by age group and sex, and location, 1 January to 30 June 2019 to 2024

The interactive data visualisation shows the number of suspected deaths by suicide in New South Wales. The population group is divided by age group, ranging from people under the age of 18 years to over 85, and sex (males, females). Viewing by location of usual residence can also be selected. 

Victoria

The Coroners Court of Victoria (CCOV) established the Victorian Suicide Register (VSR) in 2012 and publishes monthly data reports on suspected and confirmed deaths by suicide. VSR data are regularly reviewed, where deaths may be added or removed from the register as coronial investigations progress and are finalised. VSR data may therefore change over time.

The latest Monthly Suicide Data Report shows (CCOV 2024c):

  • There was a total of 796 suspected or confirmed suicide deaths in 2023. This was higher than the number of suspected or confirmed suicide deaths in 2022 (769), 2021 (679), and 2020 (670).

The CCOV stated that there was an increase in the number of suicides in 2022 and 2023 compared to the period from 2019 to 2021, which was relatively stable (CCOV 2024b). 

Year-to-date data to August 2024 from Monthly Suicide Data Report shows (CCOV 2024c):

  • Between 1 January and 31 August 2024, 527 suspected deaths by suicide were reported in Victoria. This compared to 496 in 2023, 483 in 2022, 440 in 2021 and 460 in 2020 in the same period. 

As illustrated below, the monthly frequency data show considerable variation which, according to the CCOV, usually results from random factors rather than underlying systemic issues or emerging clusters (CCOV 2022). The data therefore should be interpreted cautiously, with great care taken in drawing conclusions about any apparent short-term increase or decrease that is observed.

The “Cumulative Frequency” view in the visualisation below shows that the increase in 2022 began in the second half of the year and ‘is in contrast to the preceding four years, in which Victoria had seen a plateau in suicide numbers’ (CCOV 2023a). The number of suspected or confirmed suicides between January and July 2022 was consistent with previous years, with a monthly average of 59 deaths. However, between August and December 2022, the average monthly frequency increased to 72 deaths, which ‘might signal an emerging trend’ (CCOV 2023a). This increase in suspected or confirmed suicide deaths appears to have continued in 2023 and the first 8 months of 2024, with monthly averages of 66 in 2023 and also 66 to 31 August 2024, higher than previous years.

Frequency of suspected and confirmed deaths by suicide in Victoria, by month, January 2016 to August 2024

The interactive data visualisation shows the number of suspected deaths by suicide in Victoria, by month. Viewing can be changed between frequency and cumulative frequency. An average trendline has been included.

The CCOV also reports on suicide deaths by age group and sex, and incident location (CCOV 2024a, 2024b). For 2023:

  • Males accounted for 72% of suspected or confirmed suicide deaths. However, the increase in deaths in 2023 was more pronounced for females than males. In 2023, the total number of suspected or confirmed suicide deaths among females increased by 24 from 2022 (12% increase from 2022). For males, the increase from 2022 to 2023 was 16 (2.9% increase from 2022).
  • Among males, the age groups of 35 to 44 years (120), 45 to 54 years (108) and 25 to 34 years (105) recorded the largest number of suicide deaths, accounting for 21%, 19% and 18% of all male suicide deaths, respectively.
  • Similarly, for females, the age groups of 35 to 44 years (48), 25 to 34 years (45), and 45 to 54 years (41) experienced the greatest number of deaths, accounting for 21%, 20% and 18% of all female suicide deaths, respectively.
  • The highest increase was seen in people aged 35 to 44 years, with 168 suspected or confirmed suicide deaths compared to 129 in 2022. 
  • The largest percentage increase was seen in those under 18 years, with an 86% increase in 2023 from 2022 (26 deaths in 2023 compared with 14 in 2022). In April 2023, the CCOV investigated the increase in suicide deaths among under 18s and released a statement noting that the deaths ‘occurred in diverse circumstances across communities in both Metropolitan Melbourne and Regional Victoria, with no clear links established to date between any of the deaths’ (CCOV 2023b).
  • Consistent with previous years, the proportion of suicide deaths remained higher in Metropolitan Melbourne (65%) compared to Regional Victoria (35%).

For a detailed breakdowns of full-year frequencies of suspected and confirmed suicide deaths in Victoria by sex and age group, and incident location can be viewed on the visualisation below.

Frequency of suspected and confirmed deaths by suicide in Victoria, by age group and sex, and location, 2018 to 2023

The interactive data visualisation shows the number of suspected and confirmed deaths by suicide in Victoria, starting from 2018. The population group is divided by age groups, ranging from people under the age of 18 years to 65 years and over, and sex (males and females). Viewing by incident location can also be selected.   

Year-to-date data to August 2024 for age group and sex, and incident location show (CCOV 2024c):

  • Males recorded 381 suspected deaths by suicide, which is higher than the same period in 2023 (365), 2022 (349), 2021 (331), and 2020 (345).
  • Females recorded 146 suspected deaths by suicide, which is higher than the same period in 2023 (131), 2022 (134), 2021 (109), and 2020 (115). 

Detailed breakdowns of the year-to-date frequency of suspected and confirmed suicide deaths in Victoria by age group, sex, and incident location can be viewed on the visualisation below.

Year-to-date frequency of suspected and confirmed deaths by suicide in Victoria, by age group and sex, and location, 1 January to 31 August 2019 to 2024

The interactive data visualisation shows the number of suspected and confirmed deaths by suicide in Victoria, starting from 2018. The population group is divided by age groups, ranging from people under the age of 18 years to 65 years and over, and sex (males and females). Viewing by incident location can also be selected. 

The CCOV has also published data on suicides of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) people. The number of suspected deaths by suicide in 2023 for First Nations people in Victoria was 28, compared to 18 in 2022, 34 in 2021, 21 in 2020, 19 in 2019, and 14 in 2018. Of those 28 people who were suspected to have died by suicide in 2023, 22 were male. This compares to 13 in 2022, 25 in 2021, 14 in 2020, 12 in 2019 and 10 in 2018. There were 6 female suspected deaths by suicide in 2023, compared to 5 in 2022, 9 in 2021, 7 in both 2020 and 2019, and 4 in 2018 (CCOV 2024d).

Between 2018 to 2023, First Nations people made up an average of 3.1% of people who were suspected or confirmed to have died by suicide in Victoria. In Victoria, the average annual crude rate of death by suicide (suspected or confirmed) was more than twice as high among First Nations people compared with non-indigenous people (28.4 and 10.8 per 100,000 population, respectively) (CCOV 2024d).

Suicide deaths among First Nations people tended to occur at a younger age compared to non-Indigenous people, with 54% of all suicides among First Nations people occurring in those under 35 years of age, compared to 32% for non-Indigenous people (CCOV 2024d).

Data from the VSR have been used in a recent study investigating the prevalence and characteristics of gambling-related suicides. The findings show that in Victoria between 2009 and 2016 (Rintoul et al 2023):

  • 4.2% of suicides were linked to gambling, with 184 cases directly involving gambling and 17 involving individuals affected by others' gambling.
  • The majority (83%) of gambling related suicides were among males.
  • Gambling-related suicides were more likely to occur among those most disadvantaged with half of all gambling-related suicides occurring in the most socioeconomically disadvantaged areas (quintiles 1 and 2) as per the Victorian Index of Relative Socioeconomic Disadvantage, despite only 39.3% of the overall Victorian population residing in these areas.  

Since gambling issues are often concealed and not routinely investigated by coroners, the actual number of gambling-related suicides may be higher than reported (Rintoul et al 2023).

Queensland

In Queensland there are two systems that are used to monitor suicide deaths, the Queensland Suicide Register (QSR), which includes suicide data since 1990 and is used to monitor longer-term trends, and the interim Queensland Suicide Register (iQSR), which was established in 2011 to provide real-time information on suicide deaths. The QSR contains information on suicide deaths in Queensland for which the coroners' investigations have been finalised, whereas the iQSR records interim data on deaths suspected to be from suicide, shortly after the death occurs. Data on suspected suicide deaths are based on initial police reports and other information that is available to police at the time they refer the death to the coroner. 

Management of the QSR and iQSR was transferred from the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention (AISRAP) at Griffith University to the Queensland Mental Health Commission (QMHC) in September 2023. Previously, AISRAP published annual reports on suicide in Queensland from the QSR and iQSR. In January 2024, the QMHC commenced publishing monthly data reports from the iQSR. To date, monthly reports have been published for October, November and December 2023, with data dating back to January 2016.

The latest iQSR Monthly Suicide Data Report for May 2024 shows (QMHC 2024b):

  • There were 782 suspected suicide deaths in 2023. This was less than the number of suspected suicide deaths recorded in 2022 (795), 2021(816) and 2020 (790). 
  • 366 suspected deaths by suicide were recorded between 1 January and 30 June 2024. This compares to 379 for the same period in 2023, 373 in 2022, 404 in 2021 and 410 in 2020.

In the visualisation below:

  • The number (frequency) of suspected suicide deaths per month varies considerably from month to month, when the “Frequency” view is selected. The number of suspected male suicide deaths appears to be higher in the summer months compared to the winter months. When females are selected this pattern is less evident (See male and female).
  • The “Cumulative Frequency” view shows the year-to-date numbers of suspected suicide deaths for each month. For persons, males and females, suspected suicide deaths in 2016 are lower than all other years.

Frequency of suspected deaths by suicide in Queensland, by persons, male and female, January 2016 to June 2024

The interactive data visualisation shows the number of suspected deaths by suicide in Queensland, by month. Viewing can be changed between frequency and cumulative frequency. An average trendline has been included. 

The iQSR reports on suspected suicide deaths by age group and residential location (QMHC 2024b):

  • In 2023, three-quarters of suspected suicide deaths in Queensland were among males. However, while the number of suspected suicide deaths among males decreased from 611 in 2022 to 583 in 2023, the number of suspect suicide deaths among females increased from 184 in 2022 to 199 in 2023.
  • In 2023 the highest number of suspected suicide deaths by age group was for people aged 45 to 54 years (149), 25 to 34 years (146), and 35 to 44 years (139) accounting for 19%, 19% and 18% of all suspected suicide deaths respectively. People aged 17 years and under had the fewest deaths (21, 2.7%). 
  • In 2023 there were 13 fewer suspected suicide deaths than in 2022. The largest decrease in suspected suicide deaths between 2022 and 2023 was in people aged 45 to 54 years with 22 fewer deaths. The largest increase between 2022 and 2023 was for those aged 25 to 34 years with 10 more deaths. For all other age groups, the differences in suspected suicide deaths between 2022 and 2023 was 6 or less. 
  • In each year from 2020 to 2023 over half of the suspected suicide deaths were among people who resided in major cities, around 40% from inner or outer regional areas, and less than 5% from remote or very remote areas.

The visualisation below contains three different views. The first shows the frequency of suspected deaths by suicide in Queensland by age group and sex from 2020 to 2023. The second shows the data presented by age group (persons only) for years 2016 to 2023, while the third display the data by residential location for years 2016 to 2023.

Frequency of suspected deaths by suicide in Queensland by age group, sex, and location 2016 to 2023

The interactive data visualisation shows the number of suspected deaths by suicide in Queensland, starting from 2016. The population group is divided by age groups, ranging from people under the age of 18 years to 65 or 75 years and over, and sex (males and females). Viewing by incident residential location can also be selected.

The year-to-date iQSR reports (to 30 June 2024) on suspected suicide deaths by age group, sex and residential location show (QMHC 2024b):

  • Males recorded 284 suspected deaths by suicide, compared with 273 for the same period in 2023, 298 in 2022, 301 in 2021 and 319 in 2020. 
  • Females recorded 82 suspected deaths by suicide, compared with 106 for the same period in 2023, 75 in 2022, 103 in 2021 and 91 in 2020. 

The visualisation below shows the frequency of suspected deaths by suicide in Queensland by age group, sex and residential location for the period from 1 January to 30 June 2020 to 2024.  

Frequency of suspected deaths by suicide in Queensland by age group, sex, and location, 1 January to 30 June 2020 to 2024

The interactive data visualisation shows the number of suspected deaths by suicide in Queensland, starting from 2016. The population group is divided by age groups, ranging from people under the age of 18 years to 65 or 75 years and over, and sex (males and females). Viewing by incident residential location can also be selected.  

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