The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has today published its eighth annual report on suicide among Australian Defense Force (ADF) veterans, including the latest data from 2021 to 2023.
Between 1997 and 2023, 1,840 serving and ex-serving ADF members have died by suicide (1,532 ex-serving and 308 permanent/reserve). Of these deaths, preliminary data suggests 73 occurred in 2023—the most recent year of reporting.
“Suicide has a profound and lasting impact—deeply affecting families and loved ones and sending ripple effects throughout Australia’s defense and veteran community,” AIHW spokesperson Paul Pham said.
“This ongoing body of work aims to inform improvements in suicide awareness and prevention for ADF personnel and their families.”
Consistent with previous monitoring periods, the suicide rate during 2021–2023 was 26.4 deaths per 100,000 per year for ex-serving males, 16.0 for permanent males, 15.2 for reserve males and 10.0 for ex-serving females.
Suicide rates for ex-serving males and females have generally declined since the mid-2010s, though this is based on preliminary death information and conclusive trends are subject to changes following finalization of coronial processes.
Suicide is the leading cause of death for both ex-serving and Australian males under 30, accounting for 42% and 30% of deaths respectively, as well as for ex-serving and Australian females under 30, at 44% and 22% respectively.
Also released today are two companion reports—one looking at health service use in the year before death among ex-serving ADF members who died by suicide and another examining health service use in the year before and after intentional self-harm—each reflecting different time periods.
The reports focus on ex-serving ADF members who accessed a range of health services between July 2010 and June 2020, including Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) services, Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) MBS-equivalent services, hospital admissions, emergency department presentations and prescription medicines supplied through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) or Repatriation PBS.
Most (86%) ex-serving ADF members who died by suicide had used health services in the year before their death, and one-third (33%) of those who accessed services had a mental health service as the last type of care used.
“The AIHW’s ongoing monitoring work helps us better understand and identify patterns, risk factors and where intervention opportunities may lie,” Pham said.
“We look forward to continuing to contribute to the achievement of the recommendations contained in the Royal Commission into Defense and Veteran Suicide Final Report handed down a year ago today.”
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