Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics today shows the number of deaths caused by intentional-self harm has been decreasing in Victoria since 2015, when 668 people took their own lives.

A total of 621 people died by suicide in Victoria in 2017, three fewer than in 2016.

Tasmania and South Australia also recorded fewer deaths related to intentional self-harm.

However, Australia last year recorded one of its highest rates of suicide per 100,000 people.

ABS shows 12.6 people per 100,000 people, nationwide, took their own lives in 2017 – equal with 2015 as the highest recorded preliminary rate of intentional self-harm in the past 10 years.

A total of 3128 people in Australia took their own lives last year, 262 more than the year prior and the second time since 2015 that more than 3000 people in Australia have died by suicide.

“No government, service or individual should think that the lives lost to suicide in this country are acceptable,” Everymind director Jaelea Skehan said.

“As someone who works nationally in suicide prevention and as someone that has lost family and friends to suicide, I don’t think they’re acceptable.”

Three-quarters of all people who took their own lives were male, and a quarter were female.

“Deaths from intentional self-harm occur among males at a rate more than three times greater than that for females,” the ABS said.

Suicide ranked 10^th among the leading causes of death for males, but did not appear in the top 20 leading causes of deaths for females.

“However, the age-standardised suicide rate for females is the highest recorded preliminary rate in 10 years,” the ABS said.

The largest rise in suicide rates of any age group was recorded in men aged 45 – 55 years.

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The ABS released data about factors associated with deaths caused by intentional self-harm for the first time this year.

Drug and alcohol use disorders and ‘acute intoxication’ were relevant to almost 42 per cent of people aged 25-44 years who died by suicide, and almost 30 per cent of all people who took their own lives in 2017.

“The data suggests that we need to connect our drug and alcohol strategy and service system to our national suicide prevention efforts” Ms Skehan said.

Cancer was a factor for a quarter of people over the age of 85 who took their own lives.

About 43 per cent of all people who died by suicide last year had been diagnosed with mood disorders.

Anxiety and stress-related disorders were present in 17.5 per cent of deaths due to intentional self-harm.

“It would be easy to point a finger at one thing that needs to change or improve, but this is a big issue that requires a big response,” Ms Skehan said.

“One life lost, one family impacted, one community grieving is one too many.”

She said the social determinants contributing to distress needed to be addressed.

“We need to empower and build capacity across our community, ensure we have an accessible and responsive service system and better wrap-around supports for people who have been impacted,” Ms Skehan said.

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Everymind suicide prevention program manager Marc Bryant reminded people that people, families and communities were behind the data released.

“Every life lost is a life that is valued and missed,” he said.

“Suicide is complex and the reasons people take their own life are complex. There is often no single reason why a person attempts or dies by suicide.

“Suicide and suicide prevention are both important issues of public concerns, but we need to make sure we talk about them in a way that is safe”.

If you or someone you know needs urgent support, contact a crisis support service such as Lifeline (13 11 14) or the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467). The Kids Helpline is also available for young people from 5 – 25 years (1800 55 1800). 

In an emergency, call 000.

To learn more about suicide prevention, visit Life In Mind Australia.