Victorian suicide data reveals rise in deaths among men aged 45 to 54, most in metro areas

A shocking number of Victorians have taken their own life this year. Now experts reveal what may be causing the most worry for one age group.

Victorian suicide data reveals male deaths in the 45-54 year old age bracket have risen over the past five years. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Nearly 120 Victorians aged 45 to 54 and in the prime of their lives have taken their own life in the first nine months of this year, in what psychologists believe may be linked to the rising cost of living.

A total of 118 people in the key working and parenting age bracket ended their lives between the start of 2022 and the end of September, more than any other age group.

The number of men who died was more than three times that of women, with 90 male suicides compared to 28 female, and most of the suicides were in Melbourne metropolitan areas as opposed to regions.

The most recently released Victorian Coroner’s Court suicide data reveals male suicides in the 45-54 year old age bracket have risen over the past five years, from 73 for the same period in 2018, 57 in 2019, 61 in 2020, 72 in 2021 to 90 so far this year.

Female suicides in the age bracket have nearly doubled in the last two years, from 14 at the end of September 2020 to 28 so far this year. However, the number is slightly down from the same time in 2019, when they peaked at 30.

Australian Psychological Society (APS) president Tamara Cavenett said more people were presenting with concerns around cost of living pressures and fears of an uncertain future.

The Victorian and federal governments needed to do more to support people struggling with their mental health and at risk of suicide, she said.

Problems relating to housing and economic circumstances can be a precursor to depression.

The recently released data reveals another age group with among the highest suicide rates is the over-65 age bracket.

In good news, however, youth suicides have fallen.

There have been eight suicides in Victorians aged under 18, and 45 in young people aged 18 to 24, since the start of this year, which is the lowest number recorded for the past five years.

Ms Cavenett said early intervention through psychological support was the most cost-effective treatment, both for patients and taxpayers.

“If you think you’re struggling, it’s OK to put yourself first and seek help. Remember that the healthier you are, the more you can provide for others in your care or those who depend on you,” she said.

“While the Victorian government should be commended for its record mental health investment, more needs to be done to make sure vulnerable groups are aware that it’s OK to seek support when you need it, it could save your life.

“Your age or your postcode should never determine your mental health, yet we are seeing some groups continually falling through the cracks.”

The federal government also needed to do more to make mental health care more accessible and affordable to all Australians, but especially to vulnerable groups, she said.

The Victorian and federal governments need to do more to support people struggling to cope with cost of living pressures, according to experts.

“The government is currently scheduled to halve Medicare subsidised psychology sessions from 20 to 10 from December 31, and this needs to be reversed immediately and be made a permanent feature of Medicare,” Ms Cavenett said.

“During a mental health crisis we should be strengthening Medicare, not weakening it.

The federal government should also allow Medicare to fund psychology sessions for parenting support. This would allow psychologists to provide early support to assist a parent to respond to a child’s needs and navigate the many challenges of parenting.”

Major Australian mental health support organisation Beyond Blue said it could not comment on half-yearly or annual fluctuations in suicide data as the figures could provide an incomplete picture.

However, it said men represented the majority of deaths by suicide and rates were high in the 40-54 age group when compared to younger and older age groups.

For men in this age group, the most frequently occurring psychosocial risk factors associated with suicide were a history of self-harm, disruption of family by separation and divorce and relationship problems, legal issues and problems relating to housing and economic circumstances, it said.

Originally published as Victorian suicide data reveals rise in deaths among men aged 45 to 54, most in metro areas