Suicide in Australia: Do We Really Have A Problem?

Abstract

In 1995, 2367 Australians lost their lives through suicide, and up to 100 times this number may attempt each year: Suicide has now become a major public health problem in Australia, which has seen the suicide rates in young males quadruple over the last 35 years or so. An analysis of current research on suicide and suicidal behaviour exploring possible causes and crosscultural issues, is discussed. As well, an extended definition of suicide as an intentional death and its antecedents provides the foundation for a discourse on the views now held by our corntemporary society. The paper argues that suicide not only is one of the most extreme consequences of personal psychosocial distress but also is often also an indicator of previous life events and environmental factors that potentiates for personal vulnerabilities.

Keywords::

• Adolescence
• Australia
• Methods
• Review
• Rural Youth
• Suicide