Suicide in first-generation Australian migrants, 2006–2019: a retrospective mortality studyResearch in context

Summary: Background: This study addressed the limited understanding of suicide risk and patterns among migrants in Australia. It examined national-level suicide rates and trends in the Australian population to identify migrant groups which are disproportionately affected by suicide. Methods: The Na...

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Main Authors: Humaira Maheen, Tania King
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-10-01
Series:The Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666606523001633
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author Humaira Maheen
Tania King
author_facet Humaira Maheen
Tania King
author_sort Humaira Maheen
collection DOAJ
description Summary: Background: This study addressed the limited understanding of suicide risk and patterns among migrants in Australia. It examined national-level suicide rates and trends in the Australian population to identify migrant groups which are disproportionately affected by suicide. Methods: The National Coronial Information System was used to identify suicide cases from 2006 to 2019. Incident rate ratios (IRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) evaluated suicide risk for migrant groups compared to Australian-born and migrants from English-speaking countries. Age-standardised suicide rates (ASR) per 100,000 and average annual percentage change (AAPC) were calculated to compare suicide rates and trends. Findings: Compared to the Australian-born population, all migrant males and females had significantly lower suicide risk, except females from Oceania countries. Females from European (IRR 1.28, 95% CI 1.13, 1.14) and Oceanian countries (IRR 1.25; 95% CI 0.95, 1.66) had an elevated suicide risk compared to female migrants from English-speaking countries. Male migrants from Oceania (ASR 20.4, AAPC 1.0 (−3.6, 5.8)) and Africa (ASR 18.0, AAPC −0.4 (−5.5, 4.9)) have high ASR with no significant changes in trend over the study duration. Female African migrants had an ASR of 5.3 per 100,000, which increased by 8% (95% CI 1.4, 15.0) between 2006 and 2019. Interpretation: Migrants from Oceania and African countries are disproportionately affected by suicide mortality compared to other migrant groups in Australia. Further research is needed to identify the risk factors and develop suicide prevention strategies for these groups. Funding: Suicide Prevention Australia, Australian Research Council.
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spelling doaj.art-6125dc1b9dcf47e89e92228fd0c388c22023-07-18T04:07:42ZengElsevierThe Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific2666-60652023-10-0139100845Suicide in first-generation Australian migrants, 2006–2019: a retrospective mortality studyResearch in contextHumaira Maheen0Tania King1Corresponding author.; Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Bouverie St, Carlton 3010, AustraliaCentre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Bouverie St, Carlton 3010, AustraliaSummary: Background: This study addressed the limited understanding of suicide risk and patterns among migrants in Australia. It examined national-level suicide rates and trends in the Australian population to identify migrant groups which are disproportionately affected by suicide. Methods: The National Coronial Information System was used to identify suicide cases from 2006 to 2019. Incident rate ratios (IRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) evaluated suicide risk for migrant groups compared to Australian-born and migrants from English-speaking countries. Age-standardised suicide rates (ASR) per 100,000 and average annual percentage change (AAPC) were calculated to compare suicide rates and trends. Findings: Compared to the Australian-born population, all migrant males and females had significantly lower suicide risk, except females from Oceania countries. Females from European (IRR 1.28, 95% CI 1.13, 1.14) and Oceanian countries (IRR 1.25; 95% CI 0.95, 1.66) had an elevated suicide risk compared to female migrants from English-speaking countries. Male migrants from Oceania (ASR 20.4, AAPC 1.0 (−3.6, 5.8)) and Africa (ASR 18.0, AAPC −0.4 (−5.5, 4.9)) have high ASR with no significant changes in trend over the study duration. Female African migrants had an ASR of 5.3 per 100,000, which increased by 8% (95% CI 1.4, 15.0) between 2006 and 2019. Interpretation: Migrants from Oceania and African countries are disproportionately affected by suicide mortality compared to other migrant groups in Australia. Further research is needed to identify the risk factors and develop suicide prevention strategies for these groups. Funding: Suicide Prevention Australia, Australian Research Council.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666606523001633SuicideMigrantFirst-generationAcculturationAustralia
spellingShingle Humaira Maheen
Tania King
Suicide in first-generation Australian migrants, 2006–2019: a retrospective mortality studyResearch in context
The Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific
Suicide
Migrant
First-generation
Acculturation
Australia
title Suicide in first-generation Australian migrants, 2006–2019: a retrospective mortality studyResearch in context
title_full Suicide in first-generation Australian migrants, 2006–2019: a retrospective mortality studyResearch in context
title_fullStr Suicide in first-generation Australian migrants, 2006–2019: a retrospective mortality studyResearch in context
title_full_unstemmed Suicide in first-generation Australian migrants, 2006–2019: a retrospective mortality studyResearch in context
title_short Suicide in first-generation Australian migrants, 2006–2019: a retrospective mortality studyResearch in context
title_sort suicide in first generation australian migrants 2006 2019 a retrospective mortality studyresearch in context
topic Suicide
Migrant
First-generation
Acculturation
Australia
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666606523001633
work_keys_str_mv AT humairamaheen suicideinfirstgenerationaustralianmigrants20062019aretrospectivemortalitystudyresearchincontext
AT taniaking suicideinfirstgenerationaustralianmigrants20062019aretrospectivemortalitystudyresearchincontext