YOUTH SUICIDE IN VICTORIA - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Objective: To determine the trends in youth suicide in Victoria and Au stralia as a whole, and their relation to youth unemployment. Design: We used Australian Bureau of Statistics data to analyse suicide trends between 1907 and 1990 in young people aged 15-24 years and made an in -depth study of youth suicides between 1980 and 1990, for which comput erised data are available. Results: There has been a steady increase i n youth suicide both in Victoria and Australia as a whole since 1960 i n males but not females. There were significant differences in age, se x and area of residence in both the rate and the method of suicide. Th e increase in youth suicide was not associated with the rise in unempl oyment. Male (not female) suicide rates were higher in non-metropolita n areas and areas of high youth unemployment. The reasons for the incr ease in youth suicide remain obscure. Conclusions: There is a need for a prospective in-depth study to determine factors in the aetiology of youth suicide, with particular reference to possible areas for preven tion.