Suicides in ex-serving personnel by service
For the period 2002 to 2018 the rate of suicide in ex-serving males who served in the Army was 30 per 100,000. This rate was similar to the rate for males who served in the Navy (32 per 100,000), while the rate of suicide among males who served in the Air Force was (20 per 100,000).
Rates of suicide are not presented for females by service due to small numbers.
Figure 3: Suicide rates for 2002-2018, by service, ex-serving males
Source: AIHW analysis of linked PMKeyS—NDI data 2001–2018.
Suicides in ex-serving males and females by service over time
Between 2001 and 2018 there were 177 suicides among ex-serving personnel who served in the Army, 55 suicides among those who served in the Navy and 35 in those who served in the Air Force. These numbers reflect at least in part the fact that those who served in the Army made up around 65% of the ex-serving population over the study period.
|
Years |
Ex-Army(a) |
Ex-Navy(a) |
Ex-Air Force(a) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2001-03 |
8 |
n.p. |
n.p. |
|
2002-04 |
9 |
n.p. |
n.p. |
|
2003-05 |
12 |
n.p. |
n.p. |
|
2004-06(b) |
10 |
n.p. |
n.p. |
|
2005-07(b)(c) |
15 |
n.p. |
n.p. |
|
2006-08(b)(c) |
20 |
n.p. |
n.p. |
|
2007-09(c) |
25 |
n.p. |
n.p. |
|
2008-10 |
27 |
6 |
5 |
|
2009-11 |
29 |
5 |
6 |
|
2010-12 |
29 |
6 |
10 |
|
2011-13 |
34 |
9 |
10 |
|
2012-14 |
39 |
13 |
8 |
|
2013-15 |
47 |
20 |
7 |
|
2014-16 |
54 |
17 |
8 |
|
2015-17 |
59 |
22 |
11 |
|
2016-18 |
58 |
20 |
10 |
|
Total |
177 |
55 |
35 |
n.p. Not published because of small numbers or confidentiality.
(a) Consists of deaths by suicide in males and females.
(b) From 2006 onwards, the ABS implemented a revisions process for coroner-certified deaths (such as suicides). This improved data quality by enabling additional deaths by suicide to be identified beyond initial processing (ABS 2018). For detailed information see Technical notes.
(c) New ABS coding guidelines were applied for deaths registered from 1 January 2007. The new guidelines improve data quality by enabling deaths to be coded to suicide by ABS mortality coders if evidence indicates the death was from intentional self-harm (ABS 2018). For detailed information see Technical notes.
Source: AIHW analysis of linked PMKeyS-NDI data 2001–2018.
Suicide rates in ex-serving males by service over time
Between 2007 and 2018 the rates of suicide in ex-serving males did not differ significantly between the three services. It should be noted that the larger population size of those who served in the Army means that the rates for this group are more stable over time than those for the other service groups.
In 2016-2018 the suicide rate in ex-serving males who served in the Army was 29 per 100,000. This rate varied between 25 and 34 per 100,000 over the 3-year periods between 2007 and 2018 and was consistently higher than the rate in Australian males. This difference was statistically significant in 2013-2015 and 2014-2016.
In 2016-2018 the rate of suicide in ex-serving males who served in the Navy was 35 per 100,000. This rate varied between 15 and 48 per 100,000 for the 3-year periods between 2007 and 2018. The rate was lower or similar to the rate in Australian males between 2007-2009 and 2011-2013, and was higher than in Australian males from 2012-2014 onwards. The rate was significantly higher than Australian males in the same age range in 2013-2015.
In 2016-2018 the rate of suicide in ex-serving males who served in the Air Force was 19 per 100,000. This rate varied between 14 and 38 per 100,000 and has been similar or lower than the rate in Australian men from 2012-2014 onwards. The rate was not significantly different from Australian males in the same age range for any 3-year periods between 2007 and 2018.
Data visualisation indicating Ex-Army and Australia suicide rate by 3 year aggregate (males)
