Doessel, Darrel P, Williams, Ruth F. G and Whiteford, Harvey (2009) A Re-Assessment of Suicide Measurement: Some Comparative PYLL-Based Trends, Queensland, 1920-2005. Crisis (Kirkland): The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 30 (1). pp. 6-12. ISSN 0227-5910

Abstract

We reconsider conventional suicide measurement. First, a headcount of suicide is examined relative to some other causes of death (circulatory diseases, cancer, and motor vehicle accidents). We then construct a time-series data set of an alternative measure of suicide, the potential years of life lost (PYLL) for males and females. Suicide PYLLs average 4.57%of all male PYLLs and 2.44%of female PYLLs for 1907–2005. The comparable ‘‘count’’ percentages are 1.85 and 0.65, respectively. These differences are widening through time. In 2005, suicide represented 3.25% of all male deaths and 0.90% of female deaths using the count measure and, using PYLLs, 11.0% and 4.96%, respectively. The two measures produce quite different indications of suicide.

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