Better health and ageing for all Australians

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International suicide rates: recent trends and implications for Australia

This report examines recent trends in suicide around the world and across the lifespan. It identifies patterns in suicide mortality, examines the possible impact of national suicide prevention strategies and mental health plans and substance use policies on suicide rates, and considers other factors that may impact on suicide trends, such as unemployment, increased use of antidepressant medications, and cohort effects.

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International suicide rates: recent trends and implications for Australia (html)
International suicide rates: recent trends and implications for Australia (PDF 762 KB large file)

The same publication in smaller sections:

Cover pages (PDF 77 KB)
Table of contents (PDF 55 KB)
Executive summary (PDF 49 KB)
Introduction (PDF 48 KB)
Suicide mortality data and their reliability (PDF 53 KB)
Suicide from a global perspective (PDF 94 KB)

Recent trends in age-specific suicide rates around the world (PDF 70 KB)

  • Childhood (under 15 years of age) (PDF 75 KB)
  • Adolescence (15-24 years of age) (PDF 157 KB)
  • Early adulthood (25-44 years of age) (PDF 150 KB)
  • Middle adulthood (45-64 years of age) (PDF 149 KB)
  • Late adulthood (65 years of age and over); Summary of age-specific trends (PDF 156 KB)

    National suicide prevention strategies (PDF 110 KB)
    Mental health and mental health programmes (PDF 87 KB)
    Substance abuse and substance abuse policies (PDF 117 KB)
    The impact of antidepressants use (PDF 74 KB)
    Unemployment and suicide (PDF 51 KB)
    The influence of period and cohort effects on suicide rates (PDF 75 KB)
    Conclusions (PDF 67 KB)
    References (PDF 100 KB)

    Page last reviewed: 14 March 2013

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