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Suicide & self-harm monitoring

Suicide and intentional self-harm hospitalisations among Australian Defence Force members

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Australian Defence Force suicide monitoring Intentional self-harm hospitalisations among ex-serving Australian Defence Force members

Australian Defence Force suicide monitoring

Data in this section is drawn from the Serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members: suicide monitoring 1997 to 2023.

Suicide rates remain a concern in the Australian community and a priority for the Australian Government. Historically, ex-serving ADF members have faced an increased risk of suicide.

To increase understanding on the complex issue of suicide in serving and ex-serving ADF members, the AIHW provides annual updates to monitor the incidence of suicide in permanent, reserve and ex-serving ADF members (see Box 1). This work has been commissioned by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Rate of suicide by service status and sex, 1997–1999 to 2021–2023

This figure shows line graphs for the rate of suicide per 100,000 population per year by service status and sex over time by 3-year periods from 1997 to 1999, to 2021 to 2023. The annual Australian suicide rate by sex from 1997 to 2023 is also presented.

This figure shows line graphs for the rate of suicide per 100,000 population per year by service status and sex over time by 3-year periods from 1997 to 1999, to 2021 to 2023. The annual Australian suicide rate by sex from 1997 to 2023 is also presented.

Key findings

The latest three-year suicide rate during 2021–2023 was 26.4 deaths per 100,000 per year for ex-serving males, 16.0 for permanent males, 15.2 for reserve males and 10.0 for ex-serving females.

The suicide rate for ex-serving males and females has generally declined since the mid-2010s, though this is based on preliminary deaths information and conclusive trends are subject to changes following finalisation of coronial processes. The suicide rate for permanent and reserve males shows no clear trend.

Serving permanent males and reserve males were less likely to die by suicide than the general Australian population. However, ex-serving males and females were more likely to die by suicide than the general Australian population.

Compared with the Australian population, suicide rates (after adjusting for age) between 1997 and 2023 were: 48% lower for male permanent ADF members; 45% lower for reserve ADF males; 25% higher for ex-serving ADF males (or 1.25 times); and 98% (or 1.98 times) higher for ex-serving ADF females.

For more information see Serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members: suicide monitoring 1997 to 2023. Further information is presented by service status, age, sex, service, rank, length of service, time since separation and reason for separation.

Box 1: Who is included in this report?

Permanent: ADF members serving in a full-time capacity in the Royal Australian Navy (Navy), Australian Army (Army) or the Royal Australian Air Force (Air Force) on or after 1 January 1985, and serving in a permanent capacity on 31 December 2023 or on the date they died.

Reserve: ADF members who were in the reserve forces for the Navy, Army, or the Air Force on or after 1 January 1985, and were in the reserve forces on 31 December 2023 or when they died. Many members leaving full-time service transition to the reserves for a minimum of 5 years. The service status ‘reserve’ includes members with a wide range of relationships to the ADF. It includes personnel who have transitioned from full time service as well as those who joined and have served solely in reserve capacity. Some reserve members may serve with enduring regular employment (active reserves), while others may not render service in any capacity (standby reserves).

Ex-serving: ADF members who were in the permanent or reserve services between 1 January 1985 and 31 December 2023, who subsequently transitioned from Defence.

Intentional self-harm hospitalisations among ex-serving Australian Defence Force members

Data presented in this section are drawn from the partnership between the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and Department of Defence to establish a new data asset to provide greater insight into the health service needs of ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) members. For more information on the data asset see Technical notes - Characteristics of ex-serving Australian Defence Force members hospitalised for suicidality and intentional self-harm.

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

Admitted patient care for intentional self-harm

In 2019-20, 7,776 males and 11,126 females aged 17 years and over were admitted for intentional self-harm in public hospitals. Ex-serving ADF members were more likely to have been admitted for intentional self-harm compared with the total Australian population every year between 2010 and 2020.

Of all patients admitted to hospital in 2019–20:

  • A higher proportion of ex-serving males were admitted for intentional self-harm compared with all Australian males (1.1% and 0.8% respectively)
  • A higher proportion of ex-serving females were admitted for intentional self-harm compared with all Australian females (1.9% and 0.9% respectively).

The proportion of ex-serving ADF members admitted for intentional self-harm, compared with all Australians by age group were significantly higher for:

  • ex-serving males aged 25-34 years (3.0% and1.8% respectively)
  • ex-serving females aged 35-44 years (2.6% and 0.9% respectively).

Proportion of all admissions for any intentional self-harm for ex-serving ADF members and all Australians aged 17 and over to a public hospital, FY2019-20

The bar chart shows the proportions of hospital admissions for any intentional self-harm among people aged 17 and over. It compares the proportions among the ex-serving population with the Australian population. Data can be viewed by males and females.

The bar chart shows the proportions of hospital admissions for any intentional self-harm among people aged 17 and over. It compares the proportions among the ex-serving population with the Australian population. Data can be viewed by males and females.

Associated service characteristics

Some factors associated with a higher likelihood of hospital admission for intentional self-harm among ex-serving ADF members included:

  • Service in the Army or Navy
  • Shorter service duration (for males)
  • Lower military ranks (for males) 
  • Involuntarily discharge from the ADF.

Emergency department presentations for intentional self-harm

Presentations relating to intentional self-harm and/or suicidal ideation cannot be easily identified in the current national emergency department (ED) data collection. The challenges to identification include limitations in ED presentation diagnosis coding systems, variability between diagnosis coders, and variability between coding sets available in ED systems across jurisdictions. These data below are from bespoke analysis conducted for the Characteristics of ex-serving Australian Defence Force members hospitalised for suicidality and intentional self-harm report. See Technical notes for more information.

Between 2013 and 2020 about 4,400 ex-serving ADF members presented to an ED for self-harm or suicidal behaviour, representing 3.7% of all ED presentations among ex-serving ADF members, compared with 2.8% for all Australians.

Among ex-serving males, 3.7% of ED presentations were for self-harm or suicidal behaviour.  Presentations to ED by ex-serving ADF males of all age groups were 1.2 to 1.6 times more likely related to self-harm or suicidal behaviour compared with all Australian males of the same age group. This was similarly observed for the female ex-serving ADF population except for those aged 65+ years.

Proportion of ED presentations for self-harm or suicidal behaviour for ex-serving ADF members and all Australians, by age group, 2013–2020

The bar chart shows the proportions of Emergency Department presentations for any intentional self-harm or suicidal behaviour among people aged 17 and over. It compares the proportions among the ex-serving population with the Australian population. Data can be viewed by males and females.

The bar chart shows the proportions of Emergency Department presentations for any intentional self-harm or suicidal behaviour among people aged 17 and over. It compares the proportions among the ex-serving population with the Australian population. Data can be viewed by males and females.

For more information see Characteristics of ex-serving Australian Defence Force members hospitalised for suicidality and intentional self-harm.

The information in this report is based on several data sources. For more information, please see Data Sources, Characteristics of ex-serving Australian Defence Force members hospitalised for suicidality and intentional self-harm.

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