SUICIDE in RURAL & REMOTE AREAS of AUSTRALIA - Living is for ...

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Executive Summary The size of the problem and scope of the report Australia’s rural localities face an increasing burden of death due to suicide (Hirsch, 2006). Those groups most vulnerable to suicide appear to be males, youth, farmers and Indigenous people. Data from the Queensland Suicide Register showed that, between 2005 and 2007, male suicide rates in remote areas (36.32 per 100,000) were signifi cantly higher than male suicide rates in non-remote areas (18.25 per 100,000). Further research has also shown that the relative rate of male suicide in rural Queensland was 1.99 compared to rates in metropolitan locations (Kõlves et al, 2009). While the gap is widest between metropolitan and remote suicide rates and the rates highest among rural males, regional suicide rates are still higher and metropolitan rates and the rural female suicide rate is higher than the urban female suicide rate. The present report aimed to present a holistic examination of suicide in regional and remote Australia. It predominantly focused on the Queensland experience and has investigated a wide range of psychological, environmental and cultural factors, within this bound geographical context. Key findings Chapter One gives a detailed presentation of past research on at-risk groups, suicide methods, and risk and protective factors. Identifi ed gaps include the lack of research on the risk of suicide within specifi c sub-groups, such as females and same-sex attracted youth. This review indicates the importance of: understanding rural cultural infl uences, providing appropriate treatment services, and encouraging help-seeking in rural contexts. Chapter Two contains the results of an analysis on the contextual infl uences on suicide in metropolitan, regional and remote areas. These fi ndings indicate that contextual stressors associated with the agricultural industry, relationship breakdown and Indigenous population were associated with greater risk of suicide in remote populations. Greater education, religiosity, and antidepressant use in rural populations were associated with lower suicide rates. The chapter highlights the importance of considering suicide as embedded within a larger framework of environmental risk and protective factors. Some of the fi ndings from the second Chapter receive further support in the psychological autopsy study reported in Chapter Three. Compared to suicides in urban localities, relationship confl ict, income and work problems, and alcohol use disorder were signifi cant in cases of rural suicides. The quality of available health services and possible stigma associated with help-seeking are also highlighted as infl uences on rural suicide. GriffithBook FINAL 20/09.indd 1 15/11/12 4:28 PM
2 Suicide in rural and remote areas of Australia Existing suicide prevention strategies in rural areas are examined in Chapter Four of this report. Few programs reported the results of their activities; even fewer have conducted (and published) an evaluation of the treatment on suicidal behaviours. A major problem was that most programs addressed the issue of suicide prevention indirectly. As a result, there were few activities specifi cally available for suicide in rural contexts. Recommendations Greater recognition of the potential stressors associated with living and working in rural contexts is needed by federal and state governments, healthservice providers and the academic community. Some potential strategies to combat risks for suicide in rural contexts could be: 1. Providing greater social and economic support to persons experiencing diffi cult circumstances (e.g. drought, fl oods) in rural areas. This could help in alleviating fi nancial stress; 2. To facilitate further education and training of persons in rural contexts. Expanding the skill-base of persons residing in rural areas can allow greater social mobility and increase employment opportunities; 3. Addressing the lifestyle risks associated with suicide in rural localities, including problems in balancing the competing demands of work and family, the inappropriate use of alcohol, and recognising and seeking help for mental or physical signs of stress; 4. Encouraging the development of culturally appropriate and fl exible sources of support. This may include “upskilling” key members of the community to provide treatment and/ or referral services. This strategy would also include encouraging persons in rural contexts to seek help for mental distress and suicidality. GriffithBook FINAL 20/09.indd 2 15/11/12 4:28 PM
Page 1 and 2: Australia’s rural localities face
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Page 11 and 12: Introduction The burden of suicide
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Chapter 4 Suicide prevention initia
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Conclusions As in any other part of
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References Agerbo, E., Sterne, J. A
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