CORONERS RECORDS OF RURAL AND NON-RURAL CASES OF YOUTH SUICIDE IN NEW-SOUTH-WALES

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare the frequency of certai n putative risk factors for youth suicide in New South Wales (especial ly use of alcohol, social class, unemployment, and internal migration) in metropolitan and rural settings. Method: A review of 137 files for 10-19-year-old subjects judged by the Coroner to have committed suici de in 1988-1990 was carried out. Results: One hundred and fifteen male s and 21 females were identified tone subject's sex was unavailable). The male-female ratio was higher in rural (13.0) areas than non-rural (4.9; chi(2) = 12.14, P < 0.01). Of 27 subjects migrating within Austr alia, most migrated in a rural direction, and most to rural shires. Un employment: was somewhat more common among rural (38.5%) than non-rura l (28.9%) subjects (chi(2) = 0.75, P = 0.39), Eleven of 50 non-rural p arents of the deceased, but none of the 11 rural parents, were ranked as being in social classes 2 or 3. Alcohol consumption appeared more c ommon in rural shires (44%) than metropolitan areas (32.9%), but this was not statistically significant. Medical services were less utilised prior to death in rural (15%) than non-rural (25%) areas (chi(2) = 1. 69, P = 0.19), and a psychiatric diagnosis was recorded more commonly in non-rural areas. Conclusions: Incomplete coronial file data and rel atively small numbers limit this study's conclusions. Male suicides, p rincipally by firearms, predominated in rural areas. Youth firearm acc ess remains highly relevant to rural communities. Possible trends amon g rural subjects toward rural migration, higher unemployment, lower so cial class and lower medical attendance may point to resource deprivat ion among this group; these matters require further investigation.