Content Warning: Suicide
In Australia in 2017, over three thousand people died by suicide.
According to Suicide Prevention Australia, the current trend of suicide deaths suggest rates will increase by 1300 deaths per year by 2030.
Standardised Suicide Death Rate per State
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In 2017, the national standardised suicide fatality rate was 12.6 per 100,000 people. This has grown from 10.9 per 100,000 in 2008.
Each state has a different rate of suicides, with the Northern Territory having the highest standardised suicide rate of all Australian states and territories.
Suicide is the fifth most common cause of death for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
As of 2017, the only two states with a lower standardised rate than the National average were Victoria and New South Wales.
However, due to the vast difference in population between states, this does not mean that Victoria and New South Wales have the lowest suicide count in Australia.
In fact, New South Wales accounted for the highest number of suicide deaths in 2017.
Suicide Deaths Per State, 2017
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In all states and territories, men account for the highest number of suicides.
Suicide is the leading killer of men under 45, claiming more lives than road traffic accidents.
Suicide Deaths by State and Gender, 2017
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Men aged 45-49 years of age had the highest number of suicides in 2017, accounting for 259 suicide deaths.
There were 94 female suicide deaths in the same age bracket.
Proportion of Suicide Deaths by Age Group and Sex
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Behind every piece of data presented here, there is a person; their story, their families, and their lives cut short.
Three thousand one hundred and twenty-eight different people; 3128 stories, 3128 families, 3128 lives cut short.
The dots on the following chart represent each of the 3128 people who died by suicide in 2017.
Suicide Death Total 2017
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Suicide is a preventable tragedy.
There is always help, and there is always hope.
If you or anyone you know needs help:
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Lifeline on 13 11 14
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Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
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MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
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Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
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Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36
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Headspace on 1800 650 890
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ReachOut at au.reachout.com
All data presented in this article is sourced from The Australian Bureau of Statistics.
