Incidence of suicide in serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force personnel: detailed analysis 2001–2015
Publication
Release Date:
Topic: Veterans
Citation
AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) (2018) Incidence of suicide in serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force personnel: detailed analysis 2001–2015, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 25 June 2026.
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This report examines the incidence of suicide among serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force personnel in 2001–2015, and identifies characteristics that may be associated with suicide risk. Ex-serving men aged 18–29 have a higher suicide rate compared with Australian men of the same age. Ex-serving men of all ages who were medically discharged, or discharged in ranks other than commissioned officer, were at higher risk of suicide than their peers.
- ISBN: 978-1-76054-250-4
- Cat. no: PHE 218
- Pages: 132
Findings from this report:
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325 certified suicide deaths in 2001–2015 of people with at least 1 day of Australian Defence Force service from 2001
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The suicide rate in 2002–2015 was 14% higher among ex-serving men than all Australian men, after adjusting for age
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Among those aged 18–29, ex-serving men had a significantly higher suicide rate in 2002–2015 than Australian men
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Men discharged for medical reasons had significantly higher odds of suicide than men discharged voluntarily