The number of suicides in Australia increased last year – and mental health support organisation Beyond Blue is calling for an urgent reform of the mental health system.

On average, nine people take their life each day, and three-quarters of those are men. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Causes of Death report, published today, there was a 2.6 increase in suicides from 2021 (3,249 deaths) to 2022 (3,166 deaths). The age-standardised suicide rate increased by 2.7 per cent for males from 2021, while the rate for females decreased by 3.3 per cent. The median age at death for people who died by suicide was 45.6 (46.0 for males and 44.1 for females).

However, the suicide rate decreased in the ACT, and is at its second lowest since 2018.

Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman said the rise in suicides in Australia compared to 10 years ago was deeply concerning. Over the last decade, the suicide rate has increased from 11.2 in 2013 (2,629 deaths) to 12.3 in 2022 (3,249 deaths).

“While COVID -19 has been recognised as a contributing factor for more than 80 deaths last year, it was not in isolation, and those deaths also included multiple other factors such as job losses, relationship breakdowns, and mental health issues,” Ms Harman said.

The ABS identified mood disorders including depression (37 per cent, suicidal thoughts (26 per cent), spousal relationship problems (25 per cent), a personal history of self-harm (21.5 per cent), and anxiety and stress related disorders (17.5 per cent) as the top risk factors for suicide. 86 per cent of people who died by suicide had multiple risk factors present.

“We are seeing rising distress in the community due to cost-of-living pressures, as well as relationship issues, divorce and family separation, and unemployment,” Ms  Harman said. “These stressors are placing extraordinary pressure on people and they’re not going to recede quickly.

“It’s also important to note that First Nations Peoples continue to be disproportionately impacted by suicide.”

The number of suicides of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people increased across all jurisdictions when comparing 2013-17 (817 nationally, 7 in the ACT) with 2018-22 (1,085 nationally, 10 in the ACT).

In five other jurisdictions, between 2013 and 2022, the age-standardised suicide rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people increased by 33 per cent, reaching its highest rate in a decade in 2022 (29.9 per 100,000 people). In 2022, 212 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people died by suicide – the fifth leading cause of death.

“Australia’s approach to mental health and suicide prevention needs to change and change soon. There needs to be appropriate levels support for people in crisis, just as there needs to be appropriate support for people before they reach crisis point,” Ms Harman said.

“We need to ensure that people don’t end up trapped in feelings of distress and that they can get support early when they need it. This is how a mental health system that invests in earlier intervention can make a real difference.

“Suicide is complex – and both our mental health and the pressures we face day-to-day can influence suicidal thoughts, intentions, and plans.

“That means we need to look beyond the mental health system for solutions, while ensuring the system is set up not only to support people during and after suicidal crisis, but in a way that prevents them from getting there in the first place.”