Rising Indigenous suicide rates in Kimberley and implications for suicide prevention

© The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists 2016.Objectives: This audit examined the demographics of Indigenous Australians dying by suicide in the Kimberley region of Western Australia during the period 2005-2014. Methods: This is a de-identified retrospective audit of reported suicide deaths provided to Kimberley Mental Health and Drug Service during the period 2005-2014. Variables such as age, sex, method of suicide, previous engagement with mental health services, locality and ethnicity were assessed. Results: Indigenous suicide rates in the Kimberley region have dramatically increased in the last decade. There is also an overall trend upwards in Indigenous youth suicide and Indigenous female suicides. Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for culturally informed, and youth focussed, suicide prevention interventions within the Kimberley region.