The Coroners Court of Victoria released its December 2022 Monthly Suicide Data Report at the start of this week.
It shows a nine per cent increase in the number of deaths by suicide in the state compared to 2021.
According to the Coroners Court, the increase in 2022 represents a shift from what it describes as “a plateau in suicide numbers” in the four years prior.
In a statement provided to Neos Kosmos, State Coroner John Cain described the increase which “appears to have occurred in the latter months of 2022” as “troubling”.
The December report stresses that variation in the monthly and annual incidence of suicides is not unusual, but something it says is usually the result of “random factors” rather than “underlying systemic issues.”
In light of the report, Neos Kosmos asked Kathy Barbakos, PRONIA’s family and community services coordinator about the impact suicide has on our community, and what can be done about it.
“It’s an issue that’s generated by complex social factors that doesn’t just affect the person who has a suicidal ideation or attempts suicide; it has a domino effect on their families, friends and subsequently the general community,” she says.
She notes that culturally and linguistically diverse communities face a disproportionately increased risk of suicide, “due to traumatic experiences or negative incidents associated with the immigration process; a lack of social support networks and cultural perceptions of suicide.”
“PRONIA stands beside survivors of suicide and attempted suicide with dignity and respect, we offer support through our bilingual caseworkers; with early intervention and comprehensive care for people who need it,” she makes clear.
“Most importantly,” Kathy says, “we play a unique role in serving the community through our family and community services and through our social support groups focused on young people.”
In 2021 the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that 700,000 people die due to suicide each year; one person every 40 seconds.
It stresses the importance of establishing support networks via government and preventative services for vulnerable members of the community, with particular respect to breaking down stigma and taboos surrounding the discussion of suicide.
In the statement provided to Neos Kosmos, the State Coroner highlighted that “access to support is a vital part of suicide prevention.”
In the four years prior to 2022, the number of deaths by suicide in Victoria had remained consistent, with an average of around 58 per month.
And while that trend continued into the first half of 2022, the average increased to 65 suicides per month in the second half of last year.
The Coroner’s report states that 756 Victorians died by suicide in 2022, an increase of 63 deaths from 2021.
Of that number 560 were male, while 196 were female; an eight and 12 per cent increase respectively since 2021.
Men remain over-represented in the statistics.
Figures show that the largest increase was in people aged 65 and older, up 32 per cent from 2021.
“It is not clear what is driving this increase, especially amongst those 65 and over, but we are monitoring closely to see if this trend continues,” Judge Cain says.
The second largest increase was among people aged between 45 and 54, up 21 per cent.
However, there was a 35 per cent decrease in deaths by suicide in people under the age of 18; and an 18 per cent decrease in people between the ages of 18 and 24.
The Coroners Court’s monthly reports are derived from the Victorian Suicide Register (VSR), established in 2012 to serve as an accurate and timely source for data on suicides in the state.
Victoria’s Coroner reiterated the vital nature of proactive measures to combat suicides in the state, Judge Cain says he welcomes “the improvements made following the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.”
The Royal Commission led to the replacement of Victoria’s 2014 Mental Health Act with a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Act which passed Parliament in 2022.
It’s intended to facilitate the implementation of the Royal Commission’s 65 final and nine interim recommendations.
Among these is the state-wide expansion of the Hospital Outreach Post-suicidal Engagement (HOPE) service.
The service provides “vital follow-up and aftercare support to people following a suicide attempt.”
This falls in line with the WHO’s risk assessment on suicide which states that “A prior suicide attempt is the single most important risk factor for suicide in the general population.”
All deaths in Victoria from “suspected non-natural causes” are required to be reported to the Court, and if determined “to occur in circumstances consistent with suicide, are added to the VSR”.
The State Coroner says that suicide is a complex issue which “requires a multifaceted approach to minimise harm” adding that “sharing Court data helps to support this work across government, the prevention sector and the community.”
If you or anyone you know needs help contact:
Lifeline (www.lifeline.org.au/) on 13 11 14
PRONIA on 03 9388 9998
ReachOut (au.reachout.com)
Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
DirectLine Victoria drug/alcohol counselling on 1800 888 236
MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467