The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has today released its 2015 Causes of Death data - which includes annual national suicide information. The Hunter Institute of Mental Health has developed the following summary of Australian State and Territory data.

1. Australian State and
Territory suicide data 2015

2. Australian Capital Territory

3. Number of deaths
NSW, 815
Vic, 654Qld, 746
SA, 236
WA, 394
Tas, 85
NT, 50
ACT, 46
Figure 1 – Number of suicide deaths by
State and Territory
In the Australian Capital Territory in 2015…
• 46 people died by suicide (36 male; 10
female), which was a modest increase on
the 38 recorded in 2014
• The number of suicide deaths was the
lowest across Australia
• ACT accounted for 1.5% of all deaths by
suicide in Australia in 2015.

4. Age-standardised suicide rates
Australian Capital Territory 2015…
• Recorded the third lowest
age-standardised suicide rate
(11.6 per 100,000) in Australia
• The suicide rate was higher
than the average age-
standardised rate for ACT in
the last 10 years (9.6 per
100,000)
• The rate was lower than the
national age-standardised
suicide rate (12.6 per
100,000).
10.6 10.8
15.7
13.4
15.0
16.3
21.0
11.6
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
NSW Vic. Qld SA WA Tas. NT ACT
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
State or Territory
Figure 2: Age-standardised suicide rates in
Australia (per 100,000)

5. New South Wales

6. Number of deaths
Figure 1 – Number of suicide deaths by
State and Territory
NSW, 815
Vic, 654
Qld, 746
SA, 236
WA, 394
Tas, 85 NT, 50
ACT, 46
In New South Wales in 2015…
• 815 people died by suicide in NSW
(621 male; 194 female), which was
a slight increase on the 795
recorded in 2014
• The number of suicide deaths was
highest in NSW (815), followed by
QLD (746) and VIC (654)
• NSW accounted for almost a third of
all deaths by suicide in Australia.

7. Age-standardised suicide rates
Figure 2: Age-standardised suicide rates in
Australia (per 100,000)
10.6 10.8
15.7
13.4
15.0
16.3
21.0
11.6
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
NSW Vic. Qld SA WA Tas. NT ACT
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
State or Territory
New South Wales in 2015…
• Recorded the lowest age-
standardised suicide rate (10.6
per 100,000) in Australia
• Suicide rate considerably lower
than the national age-
standardised suicide rate (12.6
per 100,000)
• The age-specific suicide rate for
men (16.4 per 100,000) which is
higher than observed in
2014 (15.6).

8. New South Wales 2015
Across all states and territories,
the suicide rate was higher
outside of capital cities
Over the past 5 years….
• Modest increase in the
suicide rate in Greater
Sydney
• Larger increase observed
regions outside of Greater
Sydney.
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
Greater Sydney
Rest of NSW
NSW Total
Figure 3: Age-standardised suicide rate
by place of usual residence

9. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander –
New South Wales 2015
Between 2011-2015 in NSW…
• 122 (89 male, 33 female) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
deaths have been attributed to intentional self-harm, which represents
3.3% of all causes of death
• For Indigenous Australians in NSW, suicide is ranked 7th in the leading
causes of death
• The suicide rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
(13.6 per 100,000) in NSW was considerably higher than the
non-indigenous population (9.5 per 100,000) for the same period.

10. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander –
New South Wales 2015
The 2015 NSW specific statistics indicated that…
• 41 (31 male, 10 female) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people died by suicide
• Suicide was the 4th leading cause of death for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people in the state, compared to the
18th leading cause of death for non-indigenous
• The standardised death rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people (23.4 per 100,000) was considerably higher
than the non-indigenous rate (10.3 per 100,000).

11. Northern Territory

12. Number of deaths
Figure 1 – Number of suicide deaths by
State and Territory
NSW, 815
Vic, 654
Qld, 746
SA, 236
WA, 394
Tas, 85
NT, 50 ACT, 46
In the Northern Territory in 2015…
• 50 people died by suicide (32 male;
18 female), which was a slight
decrease on the 54 recorded in 2014
• The number of suicide deaths was
second lowest across Australia, only
higher than the ACT (46)
• NT accounted for 1.7% of all deaths
by suicide in Australia in 2015.

13. Age-standardised suicide rates
Figure 2: Age-standardised suicide rates in
Australia (per 100,000)
Northern Territory in 2015…
• Recorded the highest
age-standardised suicide rate
(21.0 per 100,000) in Australia
• The suicide rate was slightly
higher than the average
age-standardised rate for NT in
the last 10 years (19.3 per
100,000)
• The rate was higher than the
national age-standardised
suicide rate (12.6 per 100,000).
10.6 10.8
15.7
13.4
15.0
16.3
21.0
11.6
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
NSW Vic. Qld SA WA Tas. NT ACT
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
State or Territory

14. Northern Territory 2015
Figure 3: Age-standardised suicide rate
by place of usual residence
Across most states and territories,
the suicide rate was lower in capital
cities compared to regions outside of
the capital.
In NT in 2015, the rates both in
Darwin and the rest of NT were
similar.
Over the past 5 years….
• There has been an increase in the
rate in Greater Darwin, and a
decrease in the rate across the
rest of NT.
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
Greater Darwin
Rest of NT
NT Total

15. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander –
Northern Territory 2015
The 2015 Northern Territory specific statistics
indicated that…
• 14 (5 male, 9 female) Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people died by suicide
• Suicide was the 9th leading annual cause of death
for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,
compared to the 4th leading cause of death for
non-indigenous.

16. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander –
Northern Territory 2015
Between 2011-2015 in Northern Territory…
• 114 (70 male, 44 female) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
deaths have been attributed to intentional self-harm, which
represents 4.4% of all causes of death
• For Indigenous Australians in NT, suicide is ranked 6th in the leading
causes of death
• The suicide rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (28.2
per 100,000) in NT was considerably higher than the non-indigenous
population (14.8 per 100,000).

17. Queensland

18. Number of deaths
Figure 1 – Number of suicide deaths by
State and Territory
In Queensland 2015…
• 746 people died by suicide (568 male;
178 female), which was a considerable
increase on the 648 recorded in 2014
• The number of suicide deaths was
second highest across Australia, slightly
less than NSW (815), but more than VIC
(654)
• QLD accounted for more than a quarter
of all deaths by suicide in Australia in
2015.
NSW, 815
Vic, 654Qld, 746
SA, 236
WA, 394
Tas, 85 NT, 50
ACT, 46

19. Age-standardised suicide rates
Figure 2: Age-standardised suicide rates in
Australia (per 100,000)
Queensland 2015…
• Recorded the third highest age-
standardised suicide rate
(15.7 per 100,000) in Australia
• The suicide rate was higher than
the average age-standardised
rate for QLD in the last 10 years
(13.4 per 100,000)
• The rate was higher than the
national age-standardised
suicide rate (12.6 per 100,000).
10.6 10.8
15.7
13.4
15.0
16.3
21.0
11.6
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
NSW Vic. Qld SA WA Tas. NT ACT
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
State or Territory

20. Queensland 2015
Figure 3: Age-standardised suicide rate
by place of usual residence
Across all states and territories, the
suicide rate was lower in capital
cities compared to regions outside
of the capital
Over the past 5 years….
• The suicide rate in Greater
Brisbane has remained relatively
stable
• There has been an increase in
the age-standardised rate
observed in regions outside of
Greater Brisbane.
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
18.0
20.0
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
Greater Brisbane
Rest of QLD
QLD Total

21. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander –
Queensland 2015
2015 Queensland specific statistics indicated that…
• 51 (39 male, 12 female) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people died by suicide
• Suicide was the 3rd leading annual cause of death for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, compared to the
9th leading cause of death for non-indigenous
• The standardised death rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people (25.0 per 100,000) was considerably higher
than the non-indigenous rate (15.1 per 100,000).

22. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander –
Queensland 2015
Between 2011-2015 in Queensland…
• 218 (166 male, 52 female) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people deaths have been attributed to intentional self-harm,
which represents 6.1% of all causes of death
• For Indigenous Australians in Queensland, suicide is ranked 4th
in the leading causes of death
• The suicide rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people (23.1 per 100,000) in QLD was considerably higher
than the non-indigenous population (13.3 per 100,000).

23. South Australia

24. Number of deaths
Figure 1 – Number of suicide deaths by
State and Territory
NSW, 815
Vic, 654Qld, 746
SA, 236
WA, 394
Tas, 85
NT, 50
ACT, 46 In South Australia in 2015…
• 236 people died by suicide (174
male; 62 female), which was a slight
decrease on the 240 recorded in
2014
• The number of suicide deaths was
fifth highest across Australia,
following NSW (815), QLD (746), VIC
(654) and WA 394
• SA accounted for 7.8% of all deaths
by suicide in Australia in 2015.

25. Age-standardised suicide rates
Figure 2: Age-standardised suicide rates in
Australia (per 100,000)
South Australia 2015…
• Recorded the fifth highest
age-standardised suicide rate
(13.4 per 100,000) in Australia
• The suicide rate was lower
than the average age-
standardised rate for SA in
2014 (14.2 per 100,000)
• The rate was also slightly
higher than the national
age-standardised suicide rate
(12.6 per 100,000).
10.6 10.8
15.7
13.4
15.0
16.3
21.0
11.6
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
NSW Vic. Qld SA WA Tas. NT ACT
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
State or Territory

26. South Australia 2015
Figure 3: Age-standardised suicide rate
by place of usual residence
Across all states and territories, the
suicide rate was lower in capital
cities compared to regions outside
of the capital
In 2015, the rate in Adelaide was
similar to the rest of SA.
Over the past 5 years….
• The suicide rate has slightly
increased Greater Adelaide and
decreased in the rest of SA.
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
Greater Adelaide
Rest of SA
SA Total

27. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander –
South Australia 2015
Between 2011-2015 in South Australia…
• 43 (26 male, 17 female) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people deaths have been attributed to intentional self-harm,
which represents 5.3% of all causes of death
• For Indigenous Australians in South Australia, suicide is ranked
4th in the leading causes of death
• The suicide rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people (25.4 per 100,000) in SA was considerably higher than
the non-indigenous population (12.4 per 100,000).

28. Tasmania

29. Number of deaths
Figure 1 – Number of suicide deaths by
State and Territory
NSW, 815
Vic, 654
Qld, 746
SA, 236
WA, 394
Tas, 85
NT, 50 ACT, 46 In Tasmania in 2015…
• 85 people died by suicide (67 male;
18 female), which was a modest
increase on the 69 recorded in 2014
• The number of suicide deaths was
third lowest across Australia, only
higher than NT (50) and ACT (46)
• Tasmania accounted for 2.8% of all
deaths by suicide in Australia in 2015.

30. Age-standardised suicide rates
Figure 2: Age-standardised suicide rates in
Australia (per 100,000)
Tasmania 2015…
• Recorded the second highest
age-standardised suicide rate
(16.3 per 100,000) in Australia
• The suicide rate was higher than
the average age-standardised
rate for TAS in the last 10 years
(14.2 per 100,000)
• The rate was higher than the
national age-standardised
suicide rate (12.6 per 100,000).
10.6 10.8
15.7
13.4
15.0
16.3
21.0
11.6
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
NSW Vic. Qld SA WA Tas. NT ACT
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
State or Territory

31. Tasmania 2015
Figure 3: Age-standardised suicide rate
by place of usual residence
Across most states and
territories, the suicide rate was
lower in capital cities compared
to regions outside of the capital
Over the past 5 years….
• The suicide rate in TAS has
inversed, with Greater Hobart
decreasing and the rest of
Tasmania increasing.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
Greater Hobart
Rest of Tas
Tas Total

32. Victoria

33. Number of deaths
Figure 1 – Number of suicide deaths by
State and Territory
NSW, 815
Vic, 654Qld, 746
SA, 236
WA, 394
Tas, 85 NT, 50
ACT, 46 In Victoria in 2015…
• 654 people died by suicide (501 male;
153 female), which was similar to the
646 recorded in 2014
• The number of suicide deaths was third
highest across Australia, following NSW
(815) and QLD (746)
• Victoria accounted for almost a quarter
of all deaths by suicide in Australia.

34. Age-standardised suicide rates
Figure 2: Age-standardised suicide rates in
Australia (per 100,000)
Victoria 2015…
• Recorded the second lowest
age-standardised suicide rate
(10.8 per 100,000) in Australia
• The suicide rate remained the
same as recorded in 2014
• The rate was lower than the
national age-standardised
suicide rate (12.6 per 100,000).
10.6 10.8
15.7
13.4
15.0
16.3
21.0
11.6
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
NSW Vic. Qld SA WA Tas. NT ACT
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
State or Territory

35. Victoria 2015
Figure 3: Age-standardised suicide rate
by place of usual residence
Across all states and territories,
the suicide rate was lower in capital
cities compared to regions outside
of the capital
Over the past 5 years….
• The suicide rate in Greater
Melbourne has remained
relatively stable
• There has been an increase in
the age-standardised rate
observed in regions outside of
Greater Melbourne.
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
Greater Melbourne
Rest of Vic
Vic Total

36. Western Australia

37. Number of deaths
Figure 1 – Number of suicide deaths by
State and Territory
NSW, 815
Vic, 654Qld, 746
SA, 236
WA, 394
Tas, 85
NT, 50
ACT, 46
In Western Australia 2015…
• 394 people died by suicide (292 male;
102 female), which was a modest
increase on the 374 recorded in 2014
• The number of suicide deaths was fourth
highest across Australia, following NSW
(815), QLD (746) and VIC (654)
• WA accounted for 13% of all deaths by
suicide in Australia in 2015.

38. Age-standardised suicide rates
Figure 2: Age-standardised suicide rates in
Australia (per 100,000)
Western Australia 2015…
• Recorded the fourth highest
age-standardised suicide rate
(15.0 per 100,000) in Australia
• The suicide rate was higher
than the average age-
standardised rate for WA in the
last 10 years (13.5 per
100,000)
• The rate was higher than the
national age-standardised
suicide rate (12.6 per 100,000).
10.6 10.8
15.7
13.4
15.0
16.3
21.0
11.6
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
NSW Vic. Qld SA WA Tas. NT ACT
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
State or Territory

39. Western Australia 2015
Figure 3: Age-standardised suicide rate
by place of usual residence
Across all states and territories,
the suicide rate was lower in
capital cities compared to
regions outside of the capital
Over the past 5 years….
• The suicide rate in both
Greater Perth and the rest of
WA has remained relatively
stable. 0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
Greater Perth
Rest of WA
WA Total

40. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander –
Western Australia 2015
The 2015 Western Australia specific statistics indicated that…
• 40 (30 male, 10 female) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people died by suicide
• Suicide was the 3rd leading annual cause of death for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, compared to the
10th leading cause of death for non-indigenous
• The standardised death rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people (40.9 per 100,000) was considerably higher
than the non-indigenous rate (13.3 per 100,000).

41. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander –
Western Australia 2015
Between 2011-2015 in Western Australia…
• 192 (138 male, 54 female) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people deaths have been attributed to intentional self-harm,
which represents 8.0% of all causes of death
• For Indigenous Australians in Western Australia, suicide is
ranked 3rd in the leading causes of death
• The suicide rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people (40.8 per 100,000) in WA was considerably higher than
the non-indigenous population (12.2 per 100,000).

42. Mindframe National Media Initiative
The Mindframe National Media Initiative aims to encourage
responsible, accurate and sensitive representation of mental
illness and suicide in the Australian mass media.
For more information and to view the range of
Mindframe resources, visit: www.mindframe-media.info

43. Conversations Matter
Community and professional resources to guide and support
safe and effective conversations about suicide.
A range of practical resources are available online at
www.conversationsmatter.com.au

44. Need support?