Ms. Mettam asks about the number of suspected suicides in the South West region of WA, broken down by gender and age group. The Minister provides data on confirmed suicides due to data limitations, with a breakdown by gender and age for the period 2016-2018.

AnsweredQoN 5858Legislative Assembly
Asked
10 December 2019
Portfolio
Mental Health

QuestionView source ↗

(1) How
many suspected suicides were recorded in the South West Region, for the
following financial years: (a) 2016-17; (b) 2017-18; and (c) 2018-19? (2) In relation to (1): (a) what is the gender breakdown; and (b) how many of these were: (i) under the age of 18; (ii) between the age of 18 to 26; (iii) between the age of 27 to 45; and (iv) over the age of 45?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
11 February 2020
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health
Response time
1 days
I am advised:
(1) The National Coronial Information System does not provide data on suspected suicides; therefore, data can only be provided on confirmed suicides.
National Coronial Information System data is currently only available for Western Australia up until 31 December 2018. Deaths are therefore provided by calendar year.
The number of suicide deaths in the South West health region confirmed by a Western Australian coroner were:
(a)  34 in 2016;
(b)  22 in 2017; and
(c)  39 in 2018.
Note that these numbers are subject to revision.
(2) Of the 95 suicide deaths:
(a) 64 were male and 31 were female.
(b)  By age group:
(i)  4 were less than 18 years of age;
(ii)  11 were 18 to 26 years of age;
(iii)  35 were 27 to 44 years of age; and
(iv)  45 were 45 years of age or older.

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