Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior
Volume 35, Issue 3, 2005, Pages 277-290

Social and psychiatric influences on urban-rural differentials in Australian suicide (Article)

Taylor R.* , Page A. , Morrell S. , Harrison J. , Carter G.
  • a School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia, School of Public Health, Edward Ford Building, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
  • b School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • c School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • d Research Centre for Injury Studies, Flinders University, Australia
  • e Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Newcastle Mater Hospital and the Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, Australia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate urban-rural differentials in Australian suicide rates, and to examine influences that previously have remained largely speculative. Suicide rates for males (all ages and young adults) were significantly higher in rural areas compared to urban areas. Urban-rural suicide rate differences in males were rendered nonsignificant after adjustment for migrant and area socioeconomic status. Adjusting for mental disorder prevalence, in addition to migrant status, reduced the excess suicide risk in rural areas; the excess was reduced further with addition of mental health service utilization. The implications of this study are that socioeconomic circumstances in rural populations contribute to higher male suicide rates compared to urban areas, but these conditions may be partly mediated by mental disorder prevalence and mental health service utilization. © 2005 The American Association of Suicidology.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

urban population urban area rural area mental health service Australia human sex difference middle aged rural population controlled study social aspect comparative study Aged Mental Health Services Mental Disorders mental disease Humans Adolescent male female Socioeconomic Factors risk factor socioeconomics prevalence Article health care utilization major clinical study adult migration psychiatry Suicide
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-21744460013&doi=10.1521%2fsuli.2005.35.3.277&partnerID=40&md5=8cf2a0ca5164c66cad18f5bd53d80e7f
DOI: 10.1521/suli.2005.35.3.277
ISSN: 03630234
Cited by: 50
Original Language: English