Suicide in urban New South Wales, Australia 1985-1994: Socio-economic and migrant interactions

Variation of suicide with socio-economic status (SES) in urban NSW (Austral ia) during 1985-1994, by sex and country or region of birth, was examined u sing Poisson regression analysis of vital statistics and population data (a ge greater than or similar to 15 yr). Quintiles of SES were defined by muni cipality of residence and comparisons of suicide by SES were adjusted for a ge and country (or region) of birth (COB), and examined by COB. Risk of sui cide in females was 28% that of males for all adults and 21% for youth (age 15-24 yr). Suicide risk was lower in males from southern Europe, Middle Ea st and Asia, and higher in northern and eastern European males, compared to the Australian-born. Risks for suicide increased significantly with decrea sing SES in males, but not in females. The relationship of male suicide and SES was stronger when controlled for COB. For males, the relative risk of suicide, adjusted for age and COB, was 66% higher in the lowest SES quintil e compared to the highest quintile, and 39% higher for youth (age 15-24 yr) . For male suicide, the population attributable fraction for SES (less than the highest quintile) was 27%. Analysis of SES differentials in male suici de according to COB indicated a significant inverse suicide gradient in rel ation to SES for the Australian-born and those burn in New Zealand and the United Kingdom or fire. but not in non-English speaking COB groups, except for Asia. For Australian-born males, suicide risk was 71% higher in the low est SES group (compared to the highest), adjusted for age. These findings i ndicate that SES plays an important role in male suicide rates among the Au stralian-born and migrants from English-speaking countries and Asia, and am ong youth; but not in female suicide, nor suicide in most non-English speak ing migrant groups. Reduction in SES differentials through economic and soc ial policies may reduce male suicide in lower SES groups and should be seen to be at least as important as individual level interventions. (C) 1998 El sevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.