New data on homelessness and suicide

On Wednesday 27, November 2024, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) released new data sharing key facts about people accessing support from a Specialist Homelessness Service (SHS) in the year prior to death.

Analysis of data between 2012-2022 found that accidental poisoning and suicide were the most common causes of death for people accessing SHS services in their last year of life.

Key findings of the data include:

• The death rate of people accessing SHS services was 1.8 times the general population.
• Accidental poisoning and suicide are the leading causes of death for homeless people accessing support services.
• One in six SHS clients died by accidental poisoning.
• One in 20 SHS clients died by suicide.

Kate Colvin, CEO of Homelessness Australia, attributed the high mortality rates to “the trauma of homelessness,” highlighting the impact on both physical and mental health.

“These deaths are directly connected to the trauma of homelessness. When someone has no safe place to call home, when they’re turned away from services because the system is overwhelmed, when they face violence on the streets – the toll on their physical and mental health is devastating.”

The National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement identifies people who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability as a priority population for suicide prevention.

The data released by AIHW helps to improve understanding of mortality in this population, and provides insight into where overdose and suicide prevention efforts can be focused, including:

• Further analysis to better understand the specific health and service needs of homeless individuals, particularly those struggling with housing insecurity, drug and/or alcohol issues, and suicide risk factors.
• Developing interventions that target groups disproportionally impacted by suicide who are also experiencing homelessness, such as men, younger adults and First Nations people.
• Ensuring people experiencing homelessness have adequate access to support for mental health concerns, alcohol and other drug concerns and suicidal distress.
• Developing pathways for help-seeking, including improving suicide literacy amongst homelessness services.
• Addressing social determinants of homelessness such as, childhood maltreatment, experiences of violence and trauma, systemic racism and discrimination and poverty.
• Embedding suicide prevention interventions at points of contact with homelessness or Centrelink services.