Policy-appropriate measurement of suicide: headcount vs. potential years of life lost, Australia, 1907-2005

Arch Suicide Res. 2009;13(1):87-99. doi: 10.1080/13811110802572197.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Health Planning / statistics & numerical data
  • Health Services Research / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Life Expectancy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Population Surveillance / methods*
  • Suicide / statistics & numerical data*
  • Suicide / trends
  • Suicide Prevention*