Deaths by suicide, by socioeconomic areas

There is a strong association between socioeconomic status and deaths by suicide. Age-standardised rates and numbers of deaths by suicide tend to be higher for those living in lower socioeconomic areas (more disadvantaged areas). However, it is important to remember that suicide can affect all Australians and each person’s experience is unique; not everyone who lives in these areas will experience suicidal behaviours.

Socioeconomic status classifies individuals according to the socioeconomic characteristics of the area in which they lived prior to their death by suicide. These areas are defined using the ABS Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage (IRSD), which estimate the level of socioeconomic disadvantage of the area, rather than individuals (see Technical notes for more information). Variables used in calculating the IRSD index include household income, unemployment and levels of education. 

Suicide deaths by socioeconomic area and mechanism, Australia, 2010 to 2022.

The series of line graphs show suicide deaths by socioeconomic areas (Quintiles 1 to 5) from 2001 to 2022. Users can choose to view age-standardised suicide rates or numbers of deaths by suicide. Users can choose to view suicide deaths by specified mechanisms (Firearms, gas, Hanging, Other mechanism, or Poisoning (except gas)). Users may also view the percentage of all suicide deaths that occurred by a specified mechanism.

Highest rates of suicide occur in lowest socioeconomic areas

From 2001 to 2022, age-standardised suicide rates were highest for those who lived in the lowest socioeconomic areas (most disadvantaged areas), and generally decreased as the level of disadvantage lessened.

In 2022, the suicide rate for people living in the lowest socioeconomic (most disadvantaged) areas (18.4 deaths per 100,000 population; Quintile 1) was more than twice that of those living in the highest socioeconomic (least disadvantaged) areas (8.2 deaths per 100,000 population; Quintile 5). Similarly, the number of deaths by suicide generally declined as socioeconomic disadvantage decreased.

Suicide rates increased over time in lowest socioeconomic areas

Overall, age-standardised suicide rates increased for those living in the lowest socioeconomic areas (Quintile 1); from 14.0 deaths per 100,000 population in 2001 to 18.4 deaths per 100,000 population in 2022. In contrast, smaller change was observed for those living in the higher socioeconomic areas (Quintiles 4 and 5).

Henley and Harrison (2019) found that over the period 2009–10 to 2015–16, suicide rates increased significantly for those living in the lowest socioeconomic areas (most disadvantaged) by an average 3.5% per year while little change was observed for those in the highest (least disadvantaged) socioeconomic areas (0.2% change per year).

Methods of suicide vary by socioeconomic areas

Understanding the methods used for suicide can play an important role in suicide prevention. These data are provided to inform discussion around restriction of access to means as a policy intervention for the prevention of suicide.

Please consider your need to read the following information. If this material raises concerns for you or if you need immediate assistance, please contact a crisis support service, available free of charge, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Please consider the Mindframe guidelines if reporting on these statistics.

The classification system used to code causes of deaths data, ICD-10, uses the term ‘mechanism’ to refer to the external cause of death. Throughout Suicide & self-harm monitoring website, ‘mechanism’ has been used in data visualisations, while the term ‘method’ has been used in the accompanying text.

Throughout 2001 to 2022, age-standardised suicide rates generally decreased with decreasing socioeconomic disadvantage for hanging (ICD-10 X70) and firearms (ICD-10 X72–X75). However, there was little difference in suicide rates between socioeconomic areas for poisoning excluding gas (ICD-10 X60–X66, X68–X69), poisoning by gas (ICD-10 X67), or other methods (ICD-10 X71, X76–X84, Y87.0).

In 2022 the rate of suicide by hanging for those living in the lowest socioeconomic areas (Quintile 1) was 2.5 times higher than that of those living in the highest socioeconomic areas (Quintile 5) (11.7 vs 4.6 deaths per 100,000 population).

Between 2001 and 2022, the proportion of all deaths by suicide that were completed by exposure to poisonous substances excluding gas or by other methods generally increased with decreasing socioeconomic disadvantage. Whereas the proportion of all deaths by suicide completed by hanging tended to decrease as socioeconomic disadvantage increased.

Reference

AIHW: Henley G & Harrison JE 2019. Injury mortality and socioeconomic influence in Australia, 2015–16. Injury research and statistics series no. 128. Cat. no. INJCAT 208. Canberra: AIHW.