Citation

Campbell A, Chapman M, McHugh C, Sng A, Balaratnasingam S. Australas. Psychiatry 2016; 24(6): 561-564.

Affiliation

Consultant Psychiatrist, Associate Professor, Kimberley Mental Health and Drug Service, Broome, WA, and; University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1039856216665281

PMID

27634840

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This audit examined the demographics of Indigenous Australians dying by suicide in the Kimberley region of Western Australia during the period 2005-2014.

METHODS: This is a de-identified retrospective audit of reported suicide deaths provided to Kimberley Mental Health and Drug Service during the period 2005-2014. Variables such as age, sex, method of suicide, previous engagement with mental health services, locality and ethnicity were assessed.

RESULTS: Indigenous suicide rates in the Kimberley region have dramatically increased in the last decade. There is also an overall trend upwards in Indigenous youth suicide and Indigenous female suicides.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the need for culturally informed, and youth focussed, suicide prevention interventions within the Kimberley region.

© The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists 2016.

Language: en