Case-control Studies Of Completed And Attempted Suicide In Young People In NSW
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$819,000.00
Summary
Youth suicide rates have been increasing dramatically over the last three to four decades. The causes and determinants of these suicide rate changes remain unclear, as do the causes and determinants of the suicides themselves. Despite a range of risk factors being identified by researchers, predicting an individual suicide is difficult due to the range of factors involved and the complex interactions between them. This study will investigate associations between individual and environmental fact ....Youth suicide rates have been increasing dramatically over the last three to four decades. The causes and determinants of these suicide rate changes remain unclear, as do the causes and determinants of the suicides themselves. Despite a range of risk factors being identified by researchers, predicting an individual suicide is difficult due to the range of factors involved and the complex interactions between them. This study will investigate associations between individual and environmental factors for both completed suicides and suicide attempts in young people aged 18-34 years living in NSW. The study will be undertaken in Sydney, Newcastle and in identified rural areas. The study is embedded in existing treatment, counselling and support services and will aid their improvement and augmentation. Cases of suicide and attempted suicide will be compared with community controls, and also completed suicides with attempted suicides, to identify potentially modifiable risk factors associated with suicidal behaviour. This will provide more comprehensive information relating to how various risk factors interact and influence suicidal behaviour, including in rural areas with significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Information from this study will improve prevention initiatives and assist with community strategic development and provide evidence to enhance current health service and coronial interventions.Read moreRead less
Mortality In Young Offenders Who Have Had Custodial Sentences
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$60,448.00
Summary
The proposal seeks funding to investigate the death rate in young people who have received custodial sentences. There is evidence in the literature and anecdotal evidence from workers in the field that young offenders are at particularly high risk of dying from drug overdose, violently or by suicide, yet deaths in this group have not yet been investigated in Australia. As far as we are aware, there are also no reports worldwide of standardised mortality rates for young offenders who have been in ....The proposal seeks funding to investigate the death rate in young people who have received custodial sentences. There is evidence in the literature and anecdotal evidence from workers in the field that young offenders are at particularly high risk of dying from drug overdose, violently or by suicide, yet deaths in this group have not yet been investigated in Australia. As far as we are aware, there are also no reports worldwide of standardised mortality rates for young offenders who have been incarcerated. A group of young people who have received their first custodial sentences between 1988 and 1999 in Victoria will be identified, starting with 10 year olds in 1988. Their details will then be matched with data held by The National Death index, housed at the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, and with the Victorian Coroner's data in order to identify deaths that have occurred, the cause of death and the circumstances of death. This will provide an index of the excess deaths experienced by this group of young offenders compared with Victorian population data for the same age group and gender. Further analysis will elucidate cause specific mortality, will enable the identification of subgroups at particular risk and the examination of trends over time. The study will provide a solid foundation for health priorities, the development of interventions and policy in relation to young offenders. It will provide a resource for Australasia and be of worldwide interest. Juvenile offenders are a well-defined group who has extended contact with support services. There is a unique opportunity for the delivery of interventions aimed at improving the welfare and adult outcomes of this enormously disadvantaged and marginalised section of our community. The Centre for Adolescent Health, as the auspicing body for the Adolescent Forensic Health Service is in an excellent position to respond to this challenge.Read moreRead less