Does socioeconomic status affect risk of intentional self-harm?
Rates of hospitalisations for intentional self-harm tend to be higher for those living in lower socioeconomic (more disadvantaged) areas.
In 2019–20:
- the rate for the most disadvantaged areas (Quintile 1) was 135 hospitalisations per 100,000 population, which is 1.6 times higher than the rate for the least disadvantaged areas (Quintile 5; 84 per 100,000 population).
A similar pattern was seen in suicide rates in 2019, see Suicide by socioeconomic areas.
How have rates of intentional self-harm hospitalisations changed for socioeconomic areas?
From 2012–13 to 2019–20:
- 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 at around 25%
- rates for males in the lowest socioeconomic areas, Quintile 1 and 2, increased from 115 and 98 hospitalisations per 100,000 to 129 and 110 in 2016-17, respectively, and then decreased to 105 and 87 in 2019-20
- rates for females in lower (most disadvantaged) socioeconomic areas also increased to 2016-17 and then decreased to 2019-20.
For both males and females, the highest age-specific rates of hospitalisations between 2012–13 and 2019–20 were recorded for those aged 25–44 in the lowest socioeconomic areas (Quintile 1), with the highest age-specific rates recorded for females in this age group.
- Rates for females aged 25–44 in Quintile 1 increased from 243 per 100,000 population in 2012–13 to 272 in 2016–17 before falling to 213 in 2019–20.
- Rates for males aged 25–44 in Quintile 1 fluctuated from 197 in 2012–13 to 213 in 2016–17 then fell to 172 in 2019–20.
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 3 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.