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Recent Australian suicide trends for males and females at the national level: Has the rate of decline differed?

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  • McPhedran, Samara
  • Baker, Jeanine

Abstract

Objectives In keeping with international public health policy development, suicide prevention in Australia has received increasing attention. The mid to late 1990s saw the introduction of a range of co-ordinated national prevention programmes. Since 1997, suicides have decreased, but the comparative rates of decline for males and females have not been well studied at the national level.Methods Standardised suicide rates were calculated for males and females, using data from 1997 to 2005. Linear models (ordinary least squares) were used to calculate rates of decline, with trends compared for males and females.Results Male suicides appear to have fallen more rapidly than female suicides.Conclusions Australian males, an 'at risk' demographic, appear to be experiencing benefits from the existence of current national suicide prevention strategies and related social changes. It is recommended that greater consideration be given to researching risk factors such as intimate partner violence, sexual abuse, and substance dependence, for Australian female suicide.

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  • McPhedran, Samara & Baker, Jeanine, 2008. "Recent Australian suicide trends for males and females at the national level: Has the rate of decline differed?," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 87(3), pages 350-358, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:87:y:2008:i:3:p:350-358
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    1. Parslow, Ruth & Jorm, Anthony & Christensen, Helen & Jacomb, Patricia & Rodgers, Bryan, 2004. "Gender differences in factors affecting use of health services: an analysis of a community study of middle-aged and older Australians," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 59(10), pages 2121-2129, November.
    2. Baker, J & McPhedran, S, 2007. "Gun laws and sudden death: Did the Australian firearms legislation of 1996 make a difference?," MPRA Paper 40534, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Morrell, Stephen & Page, Andrew N. & Taylor, Richard J., 2007. "The decline in Australian young male suicide," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(3), pages 747-754, February.
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    1. Cheung, Yee Tak Derek & Spittal, Matthew J. & Pirkis, Jane & Yip, Paul Siu Fai, 2012. "Spatial analysis of suicide mortality in Australia: Investigation of metropolitan-rural-remote differentials of suicide risk across states/territories," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(8), pages 1460-1468.

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