- National suicide data
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
- Serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) suicide monitoring
Ex-serving ADF members hospital admissions for suicidality and self-harm
Released by AIHW on Wednesday, 31 July 2024
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has released data on characteristics of ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) members hospitalised for suicidality and intentional self-harm.
Created in collaboration with the Departments of Veterans' Affairs and Defence, this first of its kind data set links the Defence and health data of ex-serving ADF members who accessed hospital services between 2010 and 2020.
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.
What is included in the release?
The data released by AIHW includes information on ex-serving ADF members:
- Hospital admissions for any reason
- Hospital admissions for conditions associated with suicidal behaviour
- Emergency Department care.
Technical notes provide more detailed information about the release, including data sources, populations and the study period.
What are the key findings?
- Overall, the ages and military characteristics of ex-serving members admitted to hospital for any reason were similar to the whole ex-serving population. Military characteristics include service, rank, service length, time since service, reason for separation and DVA client status.
- Compared to the admitted Australian population, in 2019 - 2020, a greater proportion of ex-serving male and female ADF members were admitted to hospitals for:
- Mental health concerns
- Alcohol and other drug use
- Intentional self-harm.
- Between July 2010 - June 2020, 600 ex-serving males and 68 ex-serving females who served since 1 January 1985 died by suicide. Of those ex-serving members who died by suicide, in the year before death, 171 males and 26 females were admitted to hospital.
- 42.7% of males and 26.9% of females were admitted for mental and behavioural disorders.
- 26.3% of males and 50% of females were admitted for intentional self-harm.
- 22.3% were admitted for the effects of alcohol and other drug use.
- Of persons who presented to an emergency department between 2013 - 2020, ex-serving ADF members had a higher rate of emergency department visits for intentional self-harm or suicidal thoughts compared to the Australian population.
What does this mean for policy and practice?
This is the first time data on hospital admissions for suicidality and self-harm have been available for ex-serving ADF members.
Better understanding suicide and self-harm-related hospitalisations in the ex-serving ADF population helps to:
- Identify, monitor and report on risk factors for suicide and self-harm.
- Understand which ex-serving members are at an increased risk of being admitted to hospital for suicidality or self-harm. For example, members who experienced involuntary separation or served in the army or navy.
- Recognise how factors like age and gender impact the risk of being admitted to hospital for suicidality or self-harm.
- Improve understanding of the hospital care needs, including coexisting conditions, and identify opportunities to improve current practice.
- Understand the unique needs and provide strategies to support ex-serving members. For example, supporting veterans transitioning from active service.
By understanding the military factors associated with increased use of mental health-related care, more targeted and improved suicide prevention services can be made available for ex-serving ADF members and their families.
More broadly, Australian suicide prevention efforts includes the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. An interim report was delivered in August 2022, with the final report to be produced by 9 September 2024. Reviewing findings from the Royal Commission will enable further insights into suicide prevention approaches for veterans and ADF personnel.