Abstract
BackgroundA suicide cluster has been defined as a group of suicides that occur closer together in time and space than would normally be expected. We aimed to examine the extent to which suicide clusters exist among young people and adults in Australia and to determine whether differences exist between cluster and non-cluster suicides.MethodsSuicide data were obtained from the National Coronial Information System for the period 2010 and 2012. Data on date of death, postcode, age at the time of death, sex, suicide method, ICD-10 code for cause of death, marital status, employment status, and aboriginality were retrieved. We examined the presence of spatial clusters separately for youth suicides and adult suicides using the Scan statistic. Pearson’s chi-square was used to compare the characteristics of cluster suicides with non-cluster suicides.ResultsWe identified 12 spatial clusters between 2010 and 2012. Five occurred among young people (n = 53, representing 5.6% [53/940] of youth suicides) and seven occurred among adults (n = 137, representing 2.3% [137/5939] of adult suicides). Clusters ranged in size from three to 21 for youth and from three to 31 for adults. When compared to adults, suicides by young people were significantly more likely to occur as part of a cluster (difference = 3.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.8 to 4.8, p < 0.0001). Suicides by people with an Indigenous background were also significantly more likely to occur in a cluster than suicide by non-Indigenous people and this was the case among both young people and adults.ConclusionsSuicide clusters have a significant negative impact on the communities in which they occur. As a result it is important to find effective ways of managing and containing suicide clusters. To date there is limited evidence for the effectiveness of those strategies typically employed, in particular in Indigenous settings, and developing this evidence base needs to be a future priority. Future research that examines in more depth the socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with suicide clusters is also warranted in order that appropriate interventions can be developed.
Highlights
A suicide cluster has been defined as a group of suicides that occur closer together in time and space than would normally be expected
Statistical analysis We examined the presence of spatial clusters separately for youth suicides and adult suicides
Suicides by young people were significantly more likely to occur as part of a cluster
Summary
A suicide cluster has been defined as a group of suicides that occur closer together in time and space than would normally be expected. A suicide cluster is typically defined as ‘a group of suicides or suicide attempts, or both, that occur closer together in time and space than would normally be expected on the basis of either statistical prediction or community expectation’ [1, 2]. Suicide cluster deaths are relatively rare [6], when they occur they can have significant negative consequences on the community, largely due to the risk of further suicides, complicated grief reactions and the potential for ongoing trauma [2, 6, 7]. For these reasons it is important to have a clear understanding of the frequency at which clusters occur and the risk factors for suicide clusters among different sectors of the population, for whom effective preventative strategies may be targeted
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