Vic: Youth suicide numbers on decline

AAP General News (Australia)
12-11-2000
Vic: Youth suicide numbers on decline

MELBOURNE, Dec 11 AAP - The number of young Australians committing suicide dropped
last year for the second year in a row, statistics released today show.

Victoria-based youth suicide prevention organisation Here for Life said Australian
Bureau of Statistics figures showed 380 Australians aged between 15 and 24 had taken their
own lives in 1999.

The figures compared with 446 in 1998 and 510 in 1997.

But Here for Life's executive director, Andrew Kay, said today the decrease was no
cause for complacency.

More work was required in encouraging young people to seek help when they needed it,
Mr Kay told reporters.

The overall rate of suicide in Australia continued to climb with an increase from 2,096
in 1989 to 2,492 in 1999.

AAP imc/sp/clr/jnb

KEYWORD: SUICIDE

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