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Suicide in Australia: Do We Really Have A Problem?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 October 2015

Pierre Baume*
Affiliation:
Australian Institute For Suicide Research and Prevention
*
Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, Griffith University, PO Box 24, Carina Qld 4152, Australia, Email: P.Baume@nhs.gu.edu.au
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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.

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Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Australian Psychological Society 1996

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