Indigenous suicide risk four times higher

Suicide remains the leading cause of death for all Australians aged 15-44.

Residents outside the general store at the Aboriginal community of Balgo, in the Kimberley. Picture: Leon Mead.

Suicide remains the leading cause of death for all Australians aged 15-44, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 15-24 almost four times more likely to take their own life than non-indigenous people of the same age.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures reveal heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in Australia, though it is falling, while deaths from dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, have increased 68.6 per cent since 2009.

The ABS Causes of Death 2018 report finds, overall, suicides were slightly down last year compared to 2017 (3046 to 3128) and have stayed relatively stable since 2014 at about 12 deaths per thousand. Males account for three-quarters of all suicides.

For young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the figures remain deeply disturbing, with the age-specific suicide rate for 15 to 24-year-olds at 40 per 100,000 compared to just over 10 per 100,000 for non-indigenous people the same age.

Of particular concern were the statistics for children between five and 17. Suicide accounted for more than a quarter of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child deaths, the ABS reported.

“Over the five years from 2014 to 2018, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children accounted for close to a quarter of all child suicide deaths (85 of 357 deaths),” the report says.

“The age-specific death rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child suicide was 8.3 deaths per 100,000, compared to 2.1 per 100,000 for non-indigenous children.”

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists president John Allan said the slight reduction in overall suicides was encouraging, but it ­remained a significant public health concern.

“In light of the latest evidence on suicide rates, we all have to ­acknowledge the painful truth that despite our efforts, current suicide prevention strategies are on the whole not achieving the change we want,” he said.

“We acknowledge government funding commitments earlier this year for a national strategy on suicide prevention. These statistics highlight the need for much more to be done.”

If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, call Lifeline (13 11 14) or the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467), or see a doctor