Suicide in Queensland 2019 Annual Report
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Suicide in Queensland 2019 Annual Report Stuart Leske, David Crompton & Kairi Kõlves Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention Please cite as Leske, S., Crompton, D., & Kõlves, K. Please send enquiries about (2019). Suicide in Queensland: Annual Report 2019. this publication to: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia: Australian Institute Australian Institute for Suicide Research for Suicide Research and Prevention, Griffith University. and Prevention, Griffith University Mt Gravatt Campus, Mt Gravatt, Queensland 4122 Published by Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, Griffith University Phone: 61 7 3735 3382 Fax: 61 7 3735 3450 Email: [email protected] National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Author: Stuart Leske, David Crompton & Kairi Kõlves The Queensland Mental Health Commission Australian Institute for Suicide Research commissioned this report. and Prevention © Queensland Mental Health Commission, 2019 Title: Suicide in Queensland: Annual Report 2019 ISBN: 978-0-646-80814-7 Subjects: Suicide--Queensland--Statistics. Suicide--Research--Queensland. Suicidal behaviour--Queensland. Document licence Dewey Number: 362.2809943 This report is licensed by the State of Queensland (Queensland Mental Health Commission) under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 3.0 Australia licence. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/ In essence, you are free to copy, communicate and adapt this report, as long as you attribute the work to the Queensland Mental Health Commission. Foreword The effect of suicide is often described as like a stone Never is this ability to break the silence more critical thrown into a pond; the ripples reach ever-outwards, than now, with the Queensland Annual Report 2019 only stopping when they hit the next barrier. The impact highlighting a 16% increase in the suicide rate in of suicide is like the ripples, larger at the beginning, Queensland residents from 2006 to 2018. The report affecting those closest to the person – family, friends, identifies those who are most impacted by suicide: and colleagues. The power of this loss while greatest those in regional and remote communities, males, at the beginning, can persist, with ongoing emotional those under 44 years of age, older adult males, and physical health effects. Like ripples on the pond that the LGBTI community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait move ever outwards, the influence of the loss of a person Islander peoples. by suicide reaches out to others in the community. First responders, support workers, the school community The courage to speak out can positively influence and those already affected by emotional and mental discussions and actions related to reducing the rate of health problems are, particularly at risk. suicide. The vital role played by organisations such as Roses in the Ocean, QLife, and trackSAFE emphasises The stigma surrounding mental health, suicidal behaviour the importance of speaking out, suicide prevention and suicide also becomes a force in the life of family and early intervention. The focus on suicide prevention members, friends and others who experience the impact is further demonstrated by the Queensland Mental Health of suicide. The consequence of stigma for many, is silence, Commission’s role in leading, on behalf of the State a silence that enables the ripple effect to move ever Government, the development of a Suicide Prevention outwards with the potential to adversely impact on family, Plan. The signing of the ‘Tracks to Treaty’ commitment friends and the community into the future. underlines the Queensland Government’s emphasis on reducing suicides among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Just like barriers that stop the ripples, it is those who Islander Queenslanders. The treaty highlights the need for break the silence surrounding suicide that have the government and non-government agencies to support power to influence changes in mental health and social self-determination and community-led approaches to policy. Breaking the barrier of silence communicates to suicide reduction. the community that the loss of someone by suicide is a problem not just for those immediately affected, but Breaking the silence that surrounds suicide offers an also for all of us. It is the courage to speak out that breaks opportunity to create ripples that positively reach out the silence, reduces stigma and offers the opportunity to the community. Engagement with the community for changes that promote prevention, early intervention increases our capacity to prevent suicide and the and support for those affected by suicide. adverse impacts of a loss by suicide. Professor David Crompton OAM MBBS Grad Dip Soc Sci (Psych) FRANZCP FAChAM (RACP) Faculty Addiction Psychiatry (RANZCP) Suicide in Queensland Annual Report 2019 1 Table of contents Foreword ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................1 Table of contents ............................................................................................................................................................................................................2 List of tables ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................2 List of figures ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................3 List of acronyms ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................3 Glossary of key terms ....................................................................................................................................................................................................3 Dedication .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................4 Acknowledgement of Country ..................................................................................................................................................................................4 Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................................................................................................................4 Support services ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................5 Key findings ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................6 Background .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................8 Section 1: The Queensland Suicide Register ....................................................................................................................................................10 Section 2: Current suicide rates and trends ....................................................................................................................................................20 Section 3: Contributing factors and circumstantial issues .........................................................................................................................30 Section 4: Suicide methods and sites ................................................................................................................................................................38 Section 5: Deaths by suicide of older adults...................................................................................................................................................44 Section 6: Other suicide research, evaluations and reports in Queensland and Australia ............................................................46 References ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................50 Appendix – Regional downloadable datasheets ..............................................................................................................................................56 List of tables Table 1 Queensland Suicide Register documentation for all suspected deaths by suicide, 2013–2015 ..................... 19 Table 2 Interim Queensland Suicide Register suspected deaths by suicide, 2016–2018 .................................................. 19 Table 3 Suicides and age-standardised suicide rates per 100,000 people in regions covered by Hospital and Health Service catchment areas in Queensland, 2016–2018 ....................................