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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