- This media release contains information about suicide and may be distressing for some readers.
- Trends relating to suicide rates should be interpreted with caution. For example, the ex-serving female rate for 2022-2024 includes suicides less than 20. Suicide rates based on small numbers of deaths are subject to large fluctuations year-on-year.
- Deaths data for 2022-2024 are preliminary and may change as part of the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ revisions process.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has today published its ninth annual report monitoring suicide among serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) members.
Serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members: suicide monitoring 1997 to 2024 shows suicide rates among ex-serving veterans have continued to decline over the past decade, though this is based on preliminary data and conclusive trends are subject to change following finalisation of coronial processes.
Among ex-serving females, the suicide rate declined from 23.4 deaths per 100,000 population per year in 2015-2017 to 8.3 in 2022-2024.The suicide rate among ex-serving males declined from 33.3 deaths per 100,000 population per year in 2014-2016 to 25.5 in 2022-2024.
‘Behind every number is a person, and every life lost to suicide is a tragedy that deeply affects families, friends, colleagues and communities,’ AIHW spokesperson Paul Pham said.
‘While the ongoing decline in suicide rates among ex-serving veterans is encouraging, our latest report shows that some groups continue to experience a higher risk of suicide compared with the broader Australian population’.
Between 1997 and 2024, there were 1,907 deaths by suicide among serving and ex-serving ADF members, including 1,592 deaths among ex-serving members and 315 among permanent and reserve members.
After adjusting for differences in age, ex-serving males were 24% more likely to die by suicide than Australian males, while ex-serving females were 92% more likely to die by suicide than Australian females between 1997 and 2024.
Analysis published in the report shows significant differences in suicide risk across veteran groups, including by ADF separation pathway. Between 2003 and 2024, ex-serving males who separated from the ADF voluntarily had suicide rates similar to Australian males.
In contrast, ex-serving males who separated involuntarily for medical reasons had suicide rates 138% higher than Australian males and 170% higher than males who separated voluntarily between 2003 and 2024.
‘Monitoring the number, trends and rates of suicide is essential for understanding which groups are most affected and for supporting prevention efforts across the defence and veteran community,’ Mr Pham said.
For advice on reporting on suicide responsibly, refer to the Mindframe guidelines . The AIHW also respectfully requests that media reporting on this issue includes information about available support services.
