3303.0 - Causes of Death, Australia, 2010 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 20/03/2012   
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Contents >> Suicides >> Key Characteristics


KEY CHARACTERISTICS

There were 2,361 deaths from Intentional self-harm (suicide, (X60-X84, Y87.0)) registered in 2010, resulting in a ranking as the 15th leading cause of all deaths. Over three-quarters (76.9%) of suicides were males, making suicide the 10th leading cause of death for males. Deaths due to suicide occurred at a rate of 10.5 per 100,000 population in 2010.

Graph Image for SUICIDES(a), NUMBER OF DEATHS 2001-2010(b)

Footnote(s): (a) Includes ICD-10 codes X60-X84 and Y87.0. Care needs to be taken in interpreting figures relating to suicide. See Explanatory Notes 98-101. (b) All causes of death data from 2006 onward are subject to a revisions process - once data for a reference year are 'final', they are no longer revised. Affected data in this table are: 2006 (final) 2007 (final), 2008 (final), 2009 (revised), 2010 (preliminary). See Explanatory Notes 35-39 and Technical Notes, Causes of Death Revisions, 2006 and Causes of Death Revisions, 2008 and 2009.

Source(s): Causes of Death, Australia




Suicide as proportion of total deaths

While suicide accounts for only a relatively small proportion (1.6%) of all deaths in Australia, it does account for a greater proportion of deaths from all causes within specific age groups (see graph below). For example, in 2010, 24.0% of all male deaths aged 15-24 years were due to suicide. Similarly for females, suicide deaths comprise a higher proportion of total deaths in younger age groups compared with older age groups.


Graph Image for SUICIDES(a) BY SELECTED AGE GROUPS 2010(b)

Footnote(s): (a) Includes ICD-10 codes X60-X84 and Y87.0. Care needs to be taken in interpreting figures relating to suicide. See Explanatory Notes 98-101. (b) Causes of death data for 2010 are preliminary and subject to a revisions process. For further information, see Explanatory Notes 35-39 and Technical Notes Causes of Death Revisions 2006 and Causes of Death Revisions 2008 and 2009.

Source(s): Causes of Death, Australia









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