Intentional self-harm hospitalisations by Primary Health Network areas Print this page

The reporting of rates of intentional self-harm hospitalisations by Primary Health Network (PHN) areas can provide localised information to enable PHNs to identify and investigate areas requiring more coordination of care to patients, by working directly with key primary and secondary health care providers and hospitals.

How do rates of intentional self-harm hospitalisations vary across PHN areas?

The rates of hospitalisations for intentional self-harm in 2021–22 varied greatly by PHN area:

• the Northern Territory PHN area had the highest rate (238 hospitalisations per 100,000 population), while South Western Sydney PHN area had the lowest rate (44) (Supplementary table: 2021-22 National Hospital Morbidity Database - Intentional self-harm hospitalisations, NHMD S7)
• The rate per 100,000 population for Australia was 105.

In 2021–22, rates of intentional self-harm hospitalisations for females and males were generally highest in younger age groups (those aged 24 and below and 25-44 respectively).

• the highest rate of intentional self-harm hospitalisations was among females aged 24 and below in the Western Queensland PHN area (507 per 100,000 population; 53 hospitalisations). This was also followed by those aged 24 and below, in the Country SA PHN (393 per 100,000 population; 273 hospitalisations)
• rates of intentional self-harm hospitalisation for males tended to be highest in those aged 25-44. The Northern Territory PHN area reported the highest rate for males in the 25–44 age group (242 per 100,000 population; 102 hospitalisations) followed by the Western Queensland PHN (241 per 100,000 population; 21 hospitalisations).