Table 1.

Target populations for suicide prevention in Australia: relative risk (RR), prevalence in the population, and population attributable fraction.

Target population	RR (95% CI)*	Prevalence (%)	PAF % (95% CI)	RR sources	Prevalence estimate sources
Males (vs. females)	3.21 (3.16–3.28)	49.3 (49.3–49.4)	52.2 (51.5–52.8)	ABS causes of death (2017–2021)	ABS 2021 census
Young people: 15–24 years (vs. adults & older people)	0.88 (0.86–0.90)	30.2 (30.2–30.2)	−3.8 (−4.4--3.1)	ABS causes of death (2017–2021)	ABS 2021 census
Adults: 25–64 years (vs. young people & older people)	1.29 (1.26–1.30)	52.6 (52.6–52.6)	13.2 (12.4–14.0)	ABS causes of death (2017–2021)	ABS 2021 census
Older people > =65 years (vs. adults & young people)	0.76 (0.75–0.78)	17.2 (17.2–17.2)	−4.3 (−4.6--4.0)	ABS causes of death (2017–2021)	ABS 2021 census
Overseas-born	0.87 (0.72–1.04)	29.5 (29.5–29.5)	−4.2 (−9.0–1.2)	Pooled estimate of different overseas-born groups based on: Hjern and Allebeck (19), cohort study [Sweden]; Morrell et al. (20), cross-sectional study [Australia]; and Ide et al. (21), cross-sectional study [Australia].	ABS 2021 census
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander	1.96 (1.47–2.6)	3.2 (3.2–3.2)	2.9 (1.4–4.7)	ABS Causes of Death (2017)	ABS 2021 census
Gay, lesbian, bisexual	4.52 (3.27–6.26)	3.0 (3.0–3.0)	9.3 (6.1–13.3)	Pooled estimate based on: Qin et al. (22), case–control study [Denmark] Mathy et al. (23), cross-sectional study [Denmark]	ABS (24) general social survey
Low socioeconomic position (vs. high)	1.27 (1.00–1.61)	27.4 (27.3–27.4)	6.6 (−0.2–13.9)	Orri et al. (25), meta-analysis	ABS household wealth 2017–18; ERP Jun 2018 denominator [% lowest two quintiles of both equivalised disposable household income]
Employed in manual trade/blue-collar occupation (vs. general employed)	1.84 (1.46–2.33)	10.2 (10.2–10.2)	7.8 (4.4–11.8)	Allison Milner et al. (16), meta-analysis	ABS 2021 Census [% Labourers as proportion of total employed population]
Unemployed (vs. employed)	1.15 (1.00–1.13)	2.4 (2.4–2.4)	0.4 (0.0–0.7)	Allison Milner et al. (15), meta-analysis	ABS 6202.0 – Labour Force, Australia, Jan 2020
Rural or remote residence (vs. metropolitan)	1.07 (1.01–1.13)	28.6 (28.6–28.6)	2.0 (0.4–3.6)	Qi et al. (26), cross-sectional study [Australia]	ABS Regional Population Growth 2018 [% ERP Outside of Major City (ASGS)]
Bereaved by suicide (vs. no)	3.23 (2.32–4.51)	29.4 (20.7–39.0)	35.2 (14.0–63.9)	Hill et al. (36), meta-analysis	Andriessen et al. (27) Meta-analysis of population-based surveys
Mental or behavioural condition (vs. no)	2.49 (1.66–3.76)	33.8 (33.8–33.8)	32.6 (17.0–47.6)	Pooled estimate based on: Franklin et al. (13), meta-analysis Ribeiro et al. (28), meta-analysis Darvishi et al. (29), meta-analysis Gili et al. (30), meta-analysis	ABS 2020–21 National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing
Physical chronic condition (vs. no)	1.78 (1.49–2.12)	47.3 (46.6–48.0)	26.8 (18.3–34.8)	Franklin et al. (13), meta-analysis	ABS 2017–18 National Health Survey
Previous suicide attempt (vs. no)	2.03 (1.61–2.57)	4.8 (4.1–5.5)	4.4 (2.2–8.7)	Ribeiro et al. (31), meta-analysis	ABS 2020–21 National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing [lifetime prevalence]
Military personnel	1.79 (0.55–5.77)	2.4 (2.4–2.4)	1.0 (−1.5–9.6)	Pooled estimate based on: Bergman et al. (32), retrospective cohort study [Scotland] Milner et al. (33), case-series compared to population rate [Australia]	ABS 2021 Census [% defence personnel of working age population]
Offenders	6.76 (6.08–7.52)	1.8 (1.8–1.8)	9.3 (8.3–10.4)	Jones and Maynard (34), meta-analysis	ABS Recorded Crime – Offenders 2020–21

*CI=Confidence interval. Unless specified, reference population for comparison is the general population.