Question on Notice regarding the number of attempted suicides and self-harm incidents in Western Australia among young people under 25, broken down by region, year, and Indigenous status. The answer refers to tabled papers containing the requested data from hospital-based collections.

AnsweredQoN 3387Legislative Council
Asked
9 September 2015
Portfolio
Mental Health

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the number of attempted suicides and self-harm in Western Australia, and I ask: (a) by region, how many young people under the age of 25, attempted suicide or acts of self-harm in the following periods: (i) 2014-2015; (ii) 2013-2014; (iii) 2012-2013; (iv) 2011-2012; and (v) 2010-2011; and (b) by region, of those who attempted suicide or acts of self-harm, how many were of: (i) Aboriginal backgrounds; and (ii) non-Aboriginal backgrounds?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
14 October 2015
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health
Response time
35 days
The Department of Health has data on attempted self-harm available from its hospital based collections, namely the Emergency Department (ED) Data Collection and the Admitted Patient (Inpatient) Data Collection.
Similarly for most conditions, the majority of patients who self-harm and visit a hospital for treatment, attend an ED and those requiring additional care are subsequently admitted. Data for patients who are treated in the ED is provided for North and South Metropolitan regions and a category of 'Other' which comprises patients without a valid WA address. Self-harm patients can only be detected at a small number of WA Country Health Service (WACHS) ED sites, so admitted patient data is provided instead. WACHS admitted patient data is considered complete.
Note that the count of admitted patients in WACHS will be less than the numbers of patients attending EDs or Emergency Services for the reason referred to above.
(a) Refer to Attachment 1. [Please see tabled papers...]
(b) Refer to Attachment 2. [Please see tabled papers...]

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