Suicide and intentional self-harm hospitalisations by regions and local areas

Suicide by local areas

Suicide incidence data in local communities provide insight into small populations and the variability of suicide rates across Australia. This is particularly pertinent for suicide prevention activities.

Deaths by suicide data have been aggregated (pooled) across five 5-year periods (2014–2018, 2015–2019, 2016–2020, 2017–2021, 2018–2022, and 2019–2023). Data are provided at Statistical Area Level 3 (SA3s) and Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4s). Data at SA4s are further disaggregated by sex.

Over the 5-year period 2019–2023, reportable age-standardised suicide rates in persons at the SA3 level, were:

• highest in the SA3 areas of Burnett in Queensland (33.4 deaths per 100,000 population, 76 deaths total), Kimberley in Western Australia (32.9 per 100,000 and 59 deaths total) and Far North in Queensland (32.1 per 100,000 and 37 deaths total)
• lowest in the SA3 areas of Blacktown - North (5.6 deaths per 100,000 population, 38 deaths total), Parramatta (5.7 per 100,000 and 44 deaths total) and Baulkham Hills (5.7 per 100,000 and 46 deaths total) all in New South Wales.

Over the same period (2019–2023), reportable suicide rates in males, at the SA4 level, were:

• highest in the SA4 areas of Western Australia – Outback (North) (43.2 deaths per 100,000 population, 89 deaths total), Wide Bay in Queensland (35.2 per 100,000 and 257 deaths total) and South East in Tasmania (33.7 per 100,000 and 39 deaths total)
• lowest in the SA4 areas in Sydney in Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury (10.0 deaths per 100,000 population, 63 deaths total), Inner South West (10.1 per 100,000 and 163 deaths total) and North Sydney and Hornsby (10.6 per 100,000 and 110 deaths total) all in New South Wales.

For females, reportable suicide rates over the 5-year period 2019–2023, at the SA4 level, were:

• highest in the SA4 areas of Northern Territory - Outback (17.1 deaths per 100,000 population, 46 deaths total), Queensland - Outback (12.3 per 100,000 and 22 deaths total), and Western Australia – Wheat Belt (10.2 per 100,000 and 31 deaths total)
• lowest in the SA4 areas of Sydney, South West (1.9 deaths per 100,000 population and 22 deaths total), Parramatta (3.1 per 100,000 and 38 deaths total) and Blacktown (3.4 per 100,000 and 34 deaths total), all in New South Wales.

SA3s and SA4s are a standardised measure of geography and part of the Main Structure of the Australian Statistical Geography Standard, developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. All data are presented by year of registration, which is not necessarily the same as the year the death occurred. For more information, see Technical notes.

Direct estimates of suicide rates based on small numbers can be highly variable from year to year. As such, age standardised rates based on 20 or fewer deaths over the 5-year period have not been reported. Additionally, some areas with small numbers of deaths have had a random number of deaths assigned to them (instead of the true number) to protect the confidentiality of individuals. See Technical notes to ensure the data are interpreted appropriately.

Intentional self-harm hospitalisations by local areas

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 333 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.

Variation across local areas

In 2023–24, rates of hospitalisations for intentional self-harm across SA3 geographies varied widely.

• Across Australia, rates ranged from 18 per 100,000 population for intentional self-harm hospitalisations in Merrylands – Guildford (New South Wales) to 381 in Barkly (Northern Territory).
• For females, rates of hospitalisation ranged from 23 per 100,000 population in Merrylands – Guildford (New South Wales) to 548 in Caboolture (Queensland).
• For males, rates ranged from 14 hospitalisations per 100,000 population in Merrylands – Guildford (New South Wales) to 391 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 20 hospitalisations per 100,000 population in Merrylands – Guildford (New South Wales) to 600 in Maryborough (Queensland). 
• For the 25–44 age group, rates ranged from 23 hospitalisations per 100,000 population in Merrylands – Guildford (New South Wales) to 570 in Barkly (Northern Territory).
• For those aged 45 and over, rates ranged from 15 hospitalisations per 100,000 population in Baulkham Hills (New South Wales) to 242 in Beenleigh (Queensland).

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Supplementary tables

• Deaths due to suicide 2023 – National Mortality Database
• Hospitalisations for intentional self-harm 2023–24 – National Hospital Morbidity Database
  
  

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