1. Joint Health CommandThe Controversy OverAustralian Suicide Statistics Dr Duncan Wallace Consultant PsychiatristAustralian Defence Force Centre for Mental Health

2. Australian Suicide Statistics Controversy Has there been a major reduction in suicides Australia since 1997? If so, what is the significance of this to the ADF?2 3. Relevance to the ADF? Suicide accounts for only 1.6% of all deaths in Australia But suicide comprises more than 20% of deaths for men aged between 20 and 39 years Men remain four times more likely than women to die by suicide [Goldney RD, Suicide in Australia: some good news. MJA 2006; 185: 304] Deaths from suicide exceed those from MVAs [De Leo 2010]3 4. Suicide Trends in Australia1964-1993 Suicide epidemic Suicides trebled in Males aged 15-24 1964 Metro suicide rates higher 1993 Rural suicide rates higher[Dudley M et al. Suicideamong young Australians, 1964-1993: an interstate comparison of metropolitan and rural trends MJA 1998; 169:77-80] 4 5. Suicide Trends in Australia1964-1993 Towns with population