Intentional self-harm hospitalisations by local areas

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

The rates of hospitalisations for intentional self-harm in small geographic areas can provide insight into the incidence of intentional self-harm in local communities.

Statistical Areas Level 3 (SA3s) is a type of geographical classification defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to provide a regional breakdown of Australia. There are 336 geographical areas which cover states and territories (excluding SA3s associated with overseas territories and other) with boundaries defined by the ABS. Each SA3 generally has a population of between 30,000 and 130,000 people. Allocation to an SA3 for hospitalisation data is based on the patient’s usual place of residence, rather than where they received treatment.

Variations in hospitalisation rates between geographical areas may be due to a range of factors. Crude hospitalisation rates at SA3s should be interpreted with caution as areas with small populations are more sensitive to changes in the number of hospitalisations.

How to use these maps

Use the zoom and search functions to explore the map. Click on an area in the map to view additional information. Change maps by clicking on the tab at the top. The colour shading indicates different rates of intentional self-harm hospitalisations, with darker shades indicating a higher rate.

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Intentional self-harm hospitalisations by SA3 areas, Australia, 2019–20.

The map shows the crude rate and number of intentional self-harm hospitalisations for females by all ages for SA3 areas in Australia in 2019-20. Users can also choose to view maps showing the same data for males or for persons by broad age groups (0–24, 25–44 and 45 and over). In 2019–20, rates of hospitalisations for intentional self-harm for females ranged from 36 per 100,000 population in Shoalhaven (New South Wales) to 603 in Alice Springs (Northern Territory). For males, rates ranged from 15 hospitalisations per 100,000 population in Parramatta (New South Wales) to 605 in Caboolture Hinterland (Queensland).

Visualisation not available for printing

Note: Data behind these maps are available on the Data downloads page: 2020-21 National Morbidity Database – Intentional self-harm hospitalisations.

 

Variation across local areas

In 2020–21, rates of hospitalisations for intentional self-harm across the more than 300 SA3s, varied widely.

  • for females, rates of hospitalisation ranged from 35 per 100,000 population in Queanbeyan (New South Wales) to 711 in Beenleigh (Queensland). 
  • for males, rates ranged from 12 hospitalisations per 100,000 population in Strathfield - Burwood – Ashfield  (New South Wales) to 738 in Caboolture Hinterland (Queensland).

Rates of intentional self-harm hospitalisations for different age groups also varied widely between SA3s.

  • rates of hospitalisations for intentional self-harm for those aged 24 and below ranged from 17 hospitalisations per 100,000 population in Merrylands - Guildford (New South Wales) to 771 in Caboolture Hinterland (Queensland)
  • for the 25–44 age group, rates ranged from 28 hospitalisations per 100,000 population in Parramatta (New South Wales) to 1,022 in Caboolture Hinterland (Queensland)
  • for those aged 45 and over, rates ranged from 19 hospitalisations per 100,000 population in Ku-ring-gai (New South Wales) to 437 in East Arnhem (Northern Territory).