Australian Suicide Prevention using Health-Linked Data (ASHLi): Protocol for a population-based case series study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Suicide is a leading cause of death in Australia for individuals aged 15-44.
• Effective suicide prevention strategies are delivered through health services, but population-level data on intervention uptake is lacking.
• Understanding patterns of health service and medication use preceding suicide is crucial for optimizing prevention efforts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe health service utilization in the year prior to suicide, examining variations by individual characteristics.
• To analyze prescribed medication use in the year before suicide and identify medications involved in fatal poisonings.
• To explore geographical variations in service and medicine use, identifying areas with potentially limited access.

Main Methods:

• A population-based case series study utilizing data from the National Coronial Information System (NCIS) in Australia (2013-2019).
• Linking coronial data with administrative claims for health service use and dispensed medications in the year preceding death.
• Descriptive statistical analyses to characterize service and medicine use patterns by demographics, method of death, and socioeconomic status, including geographical analysis.

Main Results:

• Analysis of health service utilization patterns in the year before suicide, stratified by case characteristics.
• Characterization of prescribed medication use and medications involved in fatal poisonings, with variations by individual factors.
• Identification of geographical disparities in health service and medication access among suicide decedents.

Conclusions:

• The study provides critical population-level insights into health service and medication use among individuals who died by suicide in Australia.
• Findings will inform the development and targeting of more effective suicide prevention interventions delivered through health services.
• Geographical analysis will highlight regions requiring enhanced suicide prevention strategies and improved access to care.