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Intentional self-harm hospitalisations by states & territories

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

How do intentional self-harm hospitalisations vary across states and territories?

In 2021–22:

  • there were close to 26,900 hospitalisations due to intentional self-harm in Australia, with the highest proportion in Queensland (31%)
  • the rate of intentional self-harm hospitalisations varied between states and territories in 2021–22, with the Northern Territory reporting the highest rate (238 hospitalisations per 100,000 population), which is more than double the national rate (105 hospitalisations per 100,000 population)
  • the lowest rate was recorded in New South Wales (68 hospitalisations per 100,000 population).

Reporting is based on a patient’s usual residence, not where they received treatment.

Intentional self-harm hospitalisations, by states and territories, Australia, 2008–09 to 2020–22.

The line graph shows rates of intentional self-harm hospitalisations from 2008–09 to 2020–22 for each state and territory and the total for Australia. Users can also choose to view age-specific rate, numbers and proportion of hospitalisations for intentional self-harm by states and territory by sex and specific age groups. 

How have rates of intentional self-harm hospitalisations changed over time by state and territory?

Between 2008–09 to 2021–22, rates of intentional self-harm hospitalisations in Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory were consistently higher than that of the national rate.

  • Over this period, the highest rates of hospitalisations due to intentional self-harm in Australia were generally in the Northern Territory. Rates increased nearly 1.5 times from 162 hospitalisations per 100,000 population in 2008-09 to 238 in 2021-22.

The most notable changes between 2008-09 and 2021-22 were seen in young females.

  • The rate of intentional self-harm hospitalisations for Northern Territory females in the 0–24 age group more than tripled (from 98 hospitalisations per 100,000 population in 2008–09 to 345 in 2021–22).
  • In Queensland the rate has more than doubled for females in this age group (158 per 100,000 population in 2008–09 to 344 in 2021–22).

For males aged 24 and below, the rates of intentional self-harm hospitalisations:

  • doubled from 90 hospitalisations per 100,000 population in 2008–09 to 189 in 2021–22 in the Northern Territory

  • increased from 68 in 2008–09 to 105 in 2021–22 in Queensland, while other jurisdictions remained relatively stable.

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.

  • New South Wales reported an increase in the rate of hospitalisations due to intentional self-harm in 2016–17 (130 per 100,000), before decreasing from 2017–18 to 2021–22 (97 and 68 respectively).
  • Queensland reported a similar pattern with an increase in the rate of intentional self-harm hospitalisations between 2008-09 and 2020-21 (133 and 182 per 100,000 hospitalisations), before decreasing in 2021-22 (161).
  • Between 2011–12 and 2012–13, Victoria reported a substantial decrease in the rate of hospitalisations due to intentional self-harm from 120 to 78 hospitalisations per 100,000. This may reflect a change in Victoria's emergency department admission policy, for further information see the data quality statement.
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