- National suicide data
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
- National Suicide and Self-harm Monitoring System
Social and economic factors and suicide
The following summary is based on data released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) from the National Suicide and Self-Harm Monitoring System (the System). The System was established as part of the national effort to address suicide and self-harm in Australia by improving the quality, accessibility and timeliness of data on deaths by suicide and on self-harming and suicidal behaviours.
When exploring suicide data, it is important to remember that behind the numbers are people, families and communities impacted by suicide in Australia. The reasons people take their own life are complex, and often there is no single reason why a person attempts or dies by suicide. By increasing our understanding of data alongside the lived experience of distress, we will increase the opportunity to save lives.
For guidance on reporting on suicide and self-harm data, please refer to the Mindframe quick reference guide.
Released by AIHW on Wednesday, 22 May 2024
Social and economic factors, like education, employment and income, are known to be associated with a person’s risk of suicide (this does not mean they can be considered a direct cause).
AIHW has used data from the Multi-Agency Data Integration Project (MADIP) to explore how social and economic factors are associated with greater risk of suicide. The project links deidentified administrative and survey data to death registrations between 2011 and 2017.
Regression risk models were used to investigate relationships between 10 social and economic factors from the 2011 census and deaths by suicide in Australia. Including multiple variables in the model at the same time allowed for adjustment of the various risk factors for suicide, which may make estimates more precise. The factors included were sex, age, Indigenous status, marital status, household composition, educational attainment, labour force participation, occupation, income and need of assistance.
These models included only a subset of known factors associated with suicide risk, and do not include other known factors, such as experiences of mental health concerns or self-harm. As such, results need to be interpreted with caution and within the context of the information provided.
What social and economic factors are associated with an increased risk of suicide?
Hazard ratios (HR) are used to estimate how likely a suicide is in one group compared to a reference group. If a hazard ratio is:
- Equal to 1, there is no difference in suicide risk compared to the reference group.
- Greater than 1, suicide risk is higher compared to the reference group.
With the 10 factors included in the model, between September 2011 and December 2017:
- Males were more than three times more likely to die by suicide compared to females (HR = 3.12).
- People who were divorced, widowed or separated were almost twice as likely to die by suicide compared to people who were married or in a de facto relationship (HR = 1.95).
- People living in lone-person households were 1.72 times more likely to die by suicide compared those living as a couple with no children.
- People who were unemployed were 1.75 times more likely to die by suicide compared to those employed.
- People with low (HR = 1.59) or medium-low (HR = 1.70) incomes were more likely to die by suicide compared to people with high income.
- People who worked as machinery operators and drivers (HR = 1.51) or labourers (HR = 1.36) were more likely to die by suicide compared with managers and professionals.
- People with a diploma and certificate (1.34) and people who had completed secondary education or lower (HR= 1.27) were more likely to die by suicide compared to those with a bachelor degree or higher.
- People aged 35 to 44 (HR = 1.25) and 45 to 54 (HR = 1.33) were more likely to die by suicide compared to those aged 25 to 34 years.
- Females who needed help with core activities of their daily living were 2.44 times more likely to die by suicide compared to females who did not need help.
Results for First Nations people
In the univariate model, First Nations people were twice as likely to die by suicide compared to non-Indigenous Australians (HR = 2.05). This model only estimates the suicide risk for one factor, without considering the impact of other variables.
When controlling for the other sociodemographic factors included in the multivariate model, the risk of dying by suicide for First Nations people was reduced by 36% (HR = 1.31). This highlights the significant role of sociodemographic factors in understanding suicide risk for First Nations people.
What does this mean for policy and practice?
Exploring which factors increase or decrease suicide risk helps us to recognise the social and economic determinants of suicide.
Understanding how factors such as age, sex, income and employment impact suicide risk helps to:
- Identify settings for early distress interventions.
- Make broader economic and policy decisions with suicide prevention in mind.
- Design interventions and programs that consider social and economic determinants of health.
- Consider the complexity of socioeconomic disadvantage and acknowledge the diversity of experiences and circumstances.
